said. "No one offered insult?" He was
plainly anxious.

"Not at all," answered Mark. "I think the man only wanted to stare. I
gave him a chance to stare at me--and at the water. That is all."

Father Murray looked relieved as he clasped Mark's hand.

"Good-bye," he said. "Come to see me again. I am usually alone. Come
often. The latch-string is where you can reach it."

In the street Mark met Saunders, but this time it was the agent who
wanted to talk.

"How did you like the Padre?" he began.

"Splendid. Thank you for the meeting."

"Did you see the lady who went in?"

"Yes; I was introduced."

"Introduced? Never!"

"Why not?"

"Well," the agent was confused, "I don't see why not after all. Did
you see her face?"

"She had on a veil."

"Of course; she always has. She was the woman who passed us on the
bluff road."

"You saw her, then?"

"Yes, I saw her; but not close enough to know whether--"

"What?"

"I think she is someone I know. Are you coming back to the hotel?"

CHAPTER III

UNDER SUSPICION

That night, tossing in bed, Mark Griffin found the lady of the tree
occupying the center of his thoughts. He had to acknowledge to himself
the simple truth, that she interested him more than any other woman he
had ever seen; and he had a vague idea that he had met her before--but
where? He was wise enough to know where such interest would ultimately
lead him. The more he worried about it, the more a cause for worry it
became. The very idea was foolish. He had seen her twice, had spoken
to her once. Yes, she was charming; but he had known others almost as
charming and he had not even been interested. Now he might go
deeper--and what of the risks?

Saunders was certainly shadowing the woman. The town constable was
constantly with him, seemingly ready to make an arrest the moment the
detective was sure of his ground. It was easy to figure that out.
Worse than all, the woman was afraid--or why the veil? Why the secret
door through a tree? Why her embarrassment when she faced the danger
of having the detective see her face?

On the other hand, she was a friend of the priest, and Mark had formed
a very favorable opinion of Father Murray. Then she had referred to
the incident on the bluff road very openly and without embarrassment
These things were in her favor, but--well, the rest looked bad. Above
all was the danger of falling in love with her.

Mark thought of his