pointed toward a door to the
left--it led to her bath. Jarvis disappeared behind its shelter. At the
same instant the door of the maid's room opened, and a chic little
servant ran out chattering, clinging to her mistress' arm for
protection.

"Be silent," was the cool command. The knocking continued, with more
voices joining in the exhortations. The girl pointed to the door, and
the silent command was obeyed. Trembling like an aspen, the little maid
opened it, and the burly form of a house detective appeared at the
entrance.

"Are you all right in here?" he asked, and then observing the two
white-robed figures he doffed the conventional derby hat without which
no professional hotel detective would seem natural. "I beg your pardon,
ma'am. I just came to see if you had had any trouble."

"No," replied the mistress calmly. "What is the matter?"

"Mighty sorry to trouble you, but we're looking for a party and we
ain't goin' to stop till we find him. We just thought he might have
beat it into this room for a getaway. If you want anything, just call
us, for we'll be up and down these halls all night now."

As he shut the door, the unusual young woman waved toward it once more.

"Lock it well, Nita," she said in Spanish. "Control yourself, child.
You have a chill. Go to bed again. I will not want you again until six
o'clock in the morning."

As Nita retired she hesitated before her doorway. Her sharp black eyes
caught the glint of the bulky revolver upon the library table. Those
same black eyes dilated, her lips moved as though for another
frightened exclamation, but all she said was: "Thank you, madame! I
will not bother you again until six o'clock. Good-night, madame!"

Then she closed her door.

Nita was as discreet as she was faithful, in the service of her beloved
madame. And she was essentially Spanish in her appreciative grasp of a
romantic situation.

IV

AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

The bathroom door opened slowly, with the slightest perceptible knock.

"May I come in?" was the low and meek inquiry.

"You may, and then you may go out as soon as possible," was the
resolute response.

Warren's countenance was smiling again, and the smile was infectious.
So curious had been this burglarizing method of escape, so unusual the
imperturbable girl who had assisted him against all conventional
expectations, that the horror of the last half-hour was partially
dissipated. When a man meets a great crisis of