out instantly.

"Oh, I'm just scared to death!" she exclaimed as she climbed into the seat
beside Nat. "Good-by!" she called up to the window. And then they were
off.

"Neat little job," exclaimed Nat. "Didn't they ask you where?"

"I didn't give them a chance. I just stammered something about a package
at the post-office. But, Nat, it is such mean work! I can't bear to
deceive Dorothy!" and Tavia felt dangerously like crying.

"And do you fool yourself that you are deceiving her?" asked the cousin.
"I'll bet she comes pretty near guessing it all, and for my part I cannot
see why you do not up and tell her. It is no great crime to--"

"Oh, please, don't, Nat!" begged the girl. "It's bad enough, goodness
knows, but don't let's go over it again."

"The Griswold is quite a swell place," remarked Nat. "She must either have
money, or make money, to put up there."

"And I feel that she put that ring in Dorothy's bag. Oh, perhaps she is
only trying to get me into some other trouble."

"Well, don't get," advised Nat. "I'll be outside within call, and if you
get suspicious just raise your finger and I'll be Johnnie on the spot."

The Griswold was a large, stone building, originally intended to be used
as a handsome private residence, but of late years converted into a
rest-resort or sanitarium. Tavia mounted the broad steps timidly and
touched the old-fashioned knocker. In a moment a butler appeared and took
her card for Miss Brooks, while Tavia waited in the spacious
reception-room. She noticed that this apartment was almost overcrowded
with gilt-framed pictures, some paintings, others evidently family
portraits.

Presently Miss Brooks entered. She wore a simple, close-fitting black
gown, and Tavia felt instinctively that this little woman possessed a
powerful personality. She was even inclined to fear her, although this
sentiment might be a matter of nervous excitement rather than the result
of well-founded antipathy.

Tavia noticed she was not poorly dressed--she looked very different now;
the woman in black on the train had presented such a distressed, worn-out
appearance.

"Come right up to my room," said Miss Brooks pleasantly. "I received your
note, and have been expecting you."

Tavia smiled and murmured something as she followed Miss Brooks up the
soft, carpeted stairs. At the first landing the woman opened a door, and
motioned Tavia to step in. The room was large and well-furnished after the
regulation