the outside, but Hugh, who had often been indoors, knew
there was some elegant old mahogany furniture, as well as other
mementoes of the former life of the Madame when she filled a high niche
at the French court, before the republic was inaugurated.

His knock at the door--for instead of an electric bell the lady
insisted on using one of those enormous old silver-plated knockers,
that used to be the fashion fifty or sixty years back--was answered by
a colored woman, who seemed to know the boy, for she smiled pleasantly.

"Yassir, de missus is in," she told him in answer to his question.
"Jes' yo' walk on back to de library, honey, an' dar you'll find her,
sewin' like she always does dese amazin' times. You knows de way, I
reckons, sah."

"I certainly do, Sarah," he assured her as he started along the wide
hall.

When he knocked gently at the library door, he was told to enter, which
Hugh proceeded to do. A very wrinkled and old woman sat in a big
chair. The table was covered with material for all sorts of bandages,
and such things as are urgently needed wherever hideous war is raging.
Hugh noticed that at sight of him Madame Pangborn seemed pleased. He
wondered why, but was not long in learning.

"Oh! I am glad you've dropped in to see me, Hugh," she told him;
"because something very strange has happened, and perhaps you might be
able to advise me. In fact, Hugh, I fear I am being systematically
robbed!"

CHAPTER III

HUGH SHOULDERS A HEAVY TASK

Hugh hardly knew how to take that astonishing declaration on the part
of the old lady. He remembered that she was very peculiar in some
ways, and the very first thought that flashed into the boy's mind was
to the effect that Madame Pangborn might be getting what some fellows
would, impolitely of course, have called "daffy."

Still her black eyes flashed with all their old-time vigor, and she
appeared to be very much in earnest. More to humor her than anything
else Hugh remarked in a sympathetic voice:

"I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am. Of course if I can do anything for you
I'll be only too glad of the chance. Would you mind telling me about
it?"

"Thank you for your kindness, my son," she went on, eagerly. "You see,
a woman of my age, who has studied human nature for a long time, comes
to know the weaknesses of boys, even while believing in them to the
utmost. At times the temptation may be more than their powers of
resistance can stand, and they