g money an'
spending big money, why--oh, I don't know ... if you're happy, that's
the thing that counts, and if all this stuff," he kicked out a careless
foot at the pictures, the heavy hangings, the glass cabinets of
bibelots, "if all this stuff stood in the way of it--well--it could go
to the devil! That's not poetry maybe, but it's the truth."

Laura came over to where her husband lay, and sat by him, and took his
head in her lap, smoothing his forehead with her long white hands.

"Oh, if I could only keep you like this always," she murmured. "Keep
you untroubled, and kind, and true. This is my husband again. Oh, you
are a man, Curtis; a great, strong, kind-hearted man, with no little
graces, nor petty culture, nor trivial fine speeches, nor false sham,
imitation polish. I love you. Ah, I love you, love you, dear!"

"Old girl!" said Jadwin, stroking her hand.

"Do you want me to read to you now?" she asked.

"Just this is pretty good, it seems to me."

As he spoke, there came a step in the hall and a knock.

Laura sat up, frowning.

"I told them I was not to be disturbed," she exclaimed under her
breath. Then, "Come in," she called.

"Mr. Gretry, sir," announced the servant. "Said he wished to see you at
once, sir."

"Tell him," cried Laura, turning quickly to Jadwin, "tell him you're
not at home--that you can't see him."

"I've got to see him," answered Jadwin, sitting up. "He wouldn't come
here himself unless it was for something important."

"Can I come in, J.?" spoke the broker, from the hall. And even through
the thick curtains they could hear how his voice rang with excitement
and anxiety.

"Can I come in? I followed the servant right up, you see. I know--"

"Yes, yes. Come in," answered Jadwin. Laura, her face flushing, threw a
fold of the couch cover over her costume as Gretry, his hat still on
his head, stepped quickly into the room.

Jadwin met him half way, and Laura from her place on the couch heard
the rapidly spoken words between the general and his lieutenant.

"Now we're in for it!" Gretry exclaimed.

"Yes--well?" Jadwin's voice was as incisive and quick as the fall of an
axe.

"I've just found out," said Gretry, "that Crookes and his crowd are
going to take hold to-morrow. There'll be hell to pay in the morning.
They are going to attack us the minute the gong goes."

"Who's with them?"

"I don't know; nobody does. Sweeny, of course. But he has a gang back
of him--besides, he