t sag of her shoulders, suggestive of great weariness.

But he was captivated anew by her grave loveliness, and by her
fortitude. She betrayed her agitation only in the fine tremour in her
hands and a certain slowness in her words.

On the porch, talking to Judge Wilton, he had wondered, in a moment of
irritation, why he continued on the case against so much apparent
opposition in the very household which he sought to help. He knew now
that neither his sense of duty nor his fee was the deciding influence.
He stayed because this girl needed him, because he had seen in her eyes
last night the haggard look of an unspeakable suspicion.

"You wanted to see me--is there anything special?" she asked him,
immediately alert.

"Yes; there is, Miss Sloane," he said, careful to put into his voice all
the sympathy he felt for her.

"Yes?" She was looking at him with steady eyes.

"It's this, and I want you to bear in mind that I wouldn't bring it up
but for my desire to put an end to your uncertainty: I'm afraid you
haven't told me everything you know, everything you saw last night
in----"

When she would have spoken, he put up a warning hand.

"Let me explain, please. Don't commit yourself until you see what I
mean. Judge Wilton and Mr. Webster seem to think I'm not needed here. It
may be a natural attitude--for them. They're both lawyers, and to
lawyers a mere detective doesn't amount to much."

"Oh, I'm sure it isn't that," she flashed out, apologizing.

"Oh, I don't mind, personally," he said, with a smile for which she
felt grateful. "As I say, it's natural for them to think that way,
perhaps. Your father, however, is not a lawyer; and, when I went into
his room at your request, he took pains to offend me, insult me, several
times." That brought a faint flush to her face. "So, that leaves only
you to give me facts which I must have--if they exist."

He became more urgent.

"And you employed me, Miss Sloane; you appealed to me when you were at a
loss where to turn. I'm only fair to myself as well as to you when I
tell you that your distress, far more than financial considerations,
persuaded me to undertake this work without first consulting your
father."

She leaned toward him, bending from the waist, her eyes slightly
widened, so that their effect was to give her a startled air.

"You don't mean you'll give it up!" she said, plainly entreating. "You
won't give it up!"

"Are you quite sure you don't want me to