atively simple; but there is a child, a girl, Stephen."

"I didn't know that," the other acknowledged. "It is an ugly difficulty.
Do you wish to legitimatize your--the child? There is marriage of
course."

"I have no intention of marrying Essie Scofield," Jasper Penny said
coldly. "And I am almost certain she wouldn't consent if I had. I am
quite willing to assume a proper responsibility; but there is a limit to
my conception of that. There was never any serious question of marriage;
there is none now. I simply wish to get complete control of Eunice; by
adoption, perhaps; she is seven years old."

"There are no laws of adoption, as such, in Pennsylvania," Jannan told
him. "The only State with that provision is Louisiana; there, by an act
of Legislature, the thing can be legalized. I could arrange it through
correspondence, a certain residence within the State. It would be
cumbersome and expensive, but possible." He paused, frowning. "Devilish
awkward," he muttered; "make a stench in a family such as ours.
However," he added, "a contract practically to the same effect can be
drawn. This, with her consent, would be entirely binding on Mrs.
Scofield. If the child can write it would be well to have her signature
on the deed. Bring them here; she should have counsel."

"After that, I suppose, the name could be arranged."

"Exactly. The child, of course, would have no legal status as your heir.
Anything she got would have to be willed direct." The other nodded. It
was all far more simple than he had hoped. He almost saw a definite
lightening of the future. "Is the girl with her mother now?" Jannan
queried.

"I took her away yesterday," Jasper Penny replied negligently. "We went
to the Circus, and at present she is at Miss Brandon's Academy." He was
surprised by the sudden concern on his cousin's handsome, florid
countenance. "By heaven, Jasper," the lawyer exclaimed, "am I to
understand that you took a--well, an illegitimate child, to Miss
Brundon, left her in the School? It's--it's incredible."

"Why not?"

"If such a thing were known it would ruin Susan Brundon over night.
Haven't you a conception of how this is regarded? She would be stripped
of pupils as if the place reeked of malignant fever. A most beastly
egotistical and selfish act."

"Never thought of that," Jasper Penny admitted. He saw again the fine,
sensitive face of Miss Brundon, presiding over the establishment that
was like an emanation of her diffi