is
the impression of a number of people in Port Agnew."

"I object to the use of the adverb 'unduly' in connection with Mr.
Donald's interest in my father and me. But no matter. Since Port Agnew
has no interest in me, pray why, Mrs. Daney, should I have the
slightest interest in the impressions of these people you refer to and
whose volunteer representative you appear to be?"

"There! I knew you would be offended!" Mrs. Daney cried, with a
deprecatory shrug. "I'm sure I find this a most difficult matter to
discuss, and I assure you, I do not desire to appear offensive."

"Well, you are; but I can stand it, and whether I resent it or not
cannot be a matter of much import to you or the others. And I'll try
not to be disagreeable. Just why did you come to see me, Mrs. Daney?"

"I might as well speak plainly, Miss Brent. Donald McKaye's action in
ridding the Sawdust Pile of your neighbors has occasioned comment. It
appears that this was his first official act after assuming his
father's place in the business. Then he visited you and your father
for an hour, and your child, whom it appears you have named Donald,
called him 'daddy.' Then, last Saturday night, Mr. McKaye sent over
some clothing for the boy--"

"Whereupon the amateur detectives took up the trail," Nan interrupted
bitterly. "And you heard of it immediately."

"His father heard of it also," Mrs. Daney continued. "It worries him."

"It should not. He should have more faith in his son, Mrs. Daney."

"He is a father, my dear, very proud of his son, very devoted to him,
and fearfully ambitious for Donald's future."

"And you fear that I may detract from the radiance of that future? Is
that it?"

"In plain English," the worthy lady replied brutally, "it is."

"I see your point of view very readily, Mrs. Daney. Your apprehensions
are ridiculous--almost pathetic, Don McKaye's great sympathy is alone
responsible for his hardihood in noticing me, and he is so much too
big for Port Agnew that it is no wonder his motives are misunderstood.
However, I am sorry his father is worried. We have a very great
respect for The Laird; indeed, we owe him a debt of gratitude, and
there is nothing my father or I would not do to preserve his peace of
mind."

"The talk will die out, of course, unless something should occur to
revive it, Miss Brent--I mean, Nan. But it would be just like Donald
McKaye to start a revival of this gossip. He doesn't care a farthing
for what peo