ou were out, and that your door would be locked; but
I said I had a skeleton key in my pocket, and went on."

"You quite outwitted her," she laughed. "I don't understand why
she should lie about it."

"I have been there several times and inquired for you," he resumed;
"and was always told that you were not in."

A flush of surprise pinked her face. "I never heard anything of
it," she said regretfully.

"So Polly Dudley told me. I saw her this morning."

"Oh, did you!" she cried eagerly.

"She was in my office for an hour or two. We have been blind as
moles, the whole gang of us!" he added in a disgusted tone. "We
have trusted that woman with everything--to your sorrow and ours!
I hope the officers will see it as I do, but--I don't know. Miss
Sterling,"--he turned to her with a brighter tone in his
voice,--"do you remember when I used to come to your house to
consult your father--and you would entertain me while I was waiting
for him?"

"Oh, yes!" she answered, "I remember perfectly; but I didn't
suppose you recollected--it is so long ago."

"I don't forget easily. You were a school-girl then, weren't you?"

"I was just through the high school."

"It was the winter before I was married," he said reminiscently.
"It seems a lifetime since then. Yet it is only some twenty or
more years ago. Your father was a very wise man, and I was pretty
green in those days. I remember I wanted to sue somebody that had
cheated me in a small way, and your father advised me strongly
against it. I chafed a good deal at his decision; but I have
thought of it a good many times since, how much better things
turned out for me than if I had had my own way. Too bad he had to
go so young! We need such men. I wish we had a few like him on
the Home Board." He turned toward his companion with a rueful
smile. "I am rather glad that happened down at the Home to-day.
It has given me a little personal experience with the Dragon that
may be convenient to have." He smiled again at her, that kindly,
whimsical little smile that so well became him.

She smiled, too, and then, when he had turned back, she frowned.
She wished he wouldn't smile that way--to her. He should keep such
smiles for his fiancee.

"By the way," she began, "how is Miss Puddicombe? I haven't seen
her lately."

"She is very well, much better than she was during the summer. She
is in New York at present, visiting her aunt for a fortnight."

Ah, that was