fort to summon a grin.

"Indeed, it is not, and here is that five hundred dollar bill you so
foolishly surrendered to my friend the picture expert. Now, as all
your fellow officers seem to have departed you can begin your duties
by going upstairs and telling the ladies that the blockade has been
raised."

By the time Michael Phelan got the crisp saffron bill tucked away in
his jeans he was in full and glorious grin and made for the stairway
with an agility that was a distinct revelation of hidden resources. A
few minutes later Mrs. Burton entered the room, followed by her two
nieces.

As her now calmer eye took in the room and the empty picture frames,
Mrs. Burton exclaimed:

"Whatever have you been doing here?"

"Some of my canvases need cleaning," was the ready response, with a
wink at Whitney Barnes, who was hovering about Sadie, "so I took the
most valuable ones out of the frames to send them to the cleaners."

Mrs. Burton swallowed the fib and began a tour of inspection of the
room.

"Your father collected some of these, didn't he?" she said after a
pause. "Your father and my father were very good friends. I remember
not so long ago hearing him tell of that portrait of your ancestor,"
indicating the Stuart.

"Now I like this one--a Gainsborough, isn't it?" She had stopped in
front of "The Blue Boy."

"Do you like that one?" cried the young man.

"It's charming," gushed Mrs. Burton.

"It's yours."

"Mine! Why, I couldn't think of it."

"Please do me the honor of accepting it."

"After what has occurred to-night? Why, I"----Mrs. Burton couldn't
take her eyes from the picture, and seemed thrilled with an ecstasy of
admiration.

"I will have it packed and shipped to you to-morrow."

Mrs. Burton wheeled upon him with an expression that fairly took him
to her arms.

"You dear, generous boy," she cried; "if Helen had only confided in
me--here is my card; come to me to-morrow and we will have a family
conference. I"----

"Auntie," interposed Helen in alarm.

"I will take charge of all the wedding arrangements," ran on Auntie,
fairly bubbling over. "Come early in the afternoon, Mr. Gladwin. I
must get my girls to bed. Good night--come, girls."

Mrs. Burton started for the door and Helen lingered behind.

"Oh, whatever shall I do?" she whispered to Gladwin.

"Whatever your heart dictates," he whispered in reply.

"And did he escape?" came the frightened query, as she dropped her
eyes and blus