nd your shrewdness. I've followed all you said, in the papers. And I'm
in hopes that we may----"

He stopped, and Lucille, judging from the thin edges of sounds that she
caught, had a mental picture of his peering over his shoulder. He
resumed:

"I must apologize, I'm sure. But you'll realize my concern for
secrecy--after I've explained. May I--ah-h-h--do you mind if I look
about, for possible hearers?"

"It's unnecessary," came the calm, metallic assurance. "I've no
objection to your searching my apartment, if you insist." She laughed, a
mirthless deprecation of his timidity, and coolly put herself at his
disposal in another sentence: "I've sense enough to form an idea of what
you'll propose; and I'd scarcely want others to hear it--would I?"

"Ah-h-h!" he drawled, expressing a grudging disposition to accept her
assurance. "Certainly not.--Well, that's very reasonable--and obliging,
I'm sure."

Again by the thin fringes of sound, Lucille got information of his
settling into his chair.

"Why," he began; "why, in the name of all the unfathomable, inscrutable
angels----"

"First, Mr. Sloane," Mrs. Brace interrupted him--and Lucille heard the
rattle of a newspaper; "as a preface to our--shall we say
conference?--our conference, then, let me read you this summary of my
position.--That is, if you care to understand my position thoroughly."

She was far from her habitual quietness, rattling the newspaper
incessantly. The noise, Lucille realized, would hang as a curtain
between her father's ears and the possible sounds of her progress from
the bedroom door to the entry.

Stealing a glance into the living room, she saw his back and, over his
stooped shoulders, Mrs. Brace's calm face. In that instant, the
newspaper shook more violently--enough, she thought, to signal
cooperation.

She sickened again at sight of that woman about to dispense bought
favours to her father. The impulse to step forth and proclaim her
presence rose strongly within her; but she was turned from it by fear
that her interruption might produce disastrous results. After all, she
was not certain of his intention.

She knew, however, that at any moment he might insist on satisfying
himself, by a tour of inspection, that he was safe from being overheard.
She hesitated no longer. She would try to get away.

"Look at this, Mr. Sloane, if you please," Mrs. Brace was saying;
"notice how the items are made to stand out, each in a paragraph of
large