ou, Jasper," she said coldly. "After your
horrible charge against Frank, I never want to speak to you again."

He winced a little, then smiled.

"At least you can be civil to an old friend," he said good-humoredly,
"and tell me where you are off to in such a hurry."

Should she tell him? A moment's indecision, and then she spoke.

"I am going to marry Frank Merrill," she said.

He nodded.

"I thought as much. In that case, I am coming down to the church to
make a scene."

He said this with a smile on his lips; but there was no mistaking the
resolution which showed in the thrust of his square jaw.

"What do you mean?" she said. "Don't be absurd, Jasper. My mind is made
up."

"I mean," he said quietly, "that I have Mr. Minute's power of attorney
to act for him, and Mr. Minute happens to be your legal guardian. You
are, in point of fact, my dear May, more or less of a ward, and you
cannot marry before you are twenty-one without your guardian's consent."

"I shall be twenty-one next week," she said defiantly.

"Then," smiled the other, "wait till next week before you marry. There
is no very pressing hurry."

"You forced this situation upon me," said the girl hotly, "and I think
it is very horrid of you. I am going to marry Frank to-day."

"Under those circumstances, I must come down and forbid the marriage;
and when our parson asks if there is any just cause I shall step forward
to the rails, gayly flourishing the power of attorney, and not even the
most hardened parson could continue in the face of that legal
instrument. It is a mandamus, a caveat, and all sorts of horrific
things."

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

"Because I have no desire that you shall marry a man who is certainly a
forger, and possibly a murderer," said Jasper Cole calmly.

"I won't listen to you!" she cried, and stepped into the waiting
taxicab.

Without a word, Jasper followed her.

"You can't turn me out," he said, "and I know where you are going,
anyway, because you were giving directions to the driver when I stood
behind you. You had better let me go with you. I like the suburbs."

She turned and faced him swiftly.

"And Silvers Rents?" she asked.

He went a shade paler.

"What do you know about Silvers Rents?" he demanded, recovering himself
with an effort.

She did not reply.

The taxicab was halfway to its destination before the girl spoke again:

"Are you serious when you say you will forbid the marriage?