ything.

Keeping close together, the two young women with difficulty elbowed
their way through the excited throng. They were anxious to rejoin
Kenneth whom they had left in the stateroom giving instructions to
Francois, and they began to be afraid they might lose him in the crush.
Delighted at everything she saw, Ray could not contain herself.

"Oh, how I wish I were going! Why doesn't Ken take me?"

Helen turned to her in mock despair.

"If you went, what would I do? Who would take care of me?"

"I would," said a masculine voice close by.

The women turned quickly.

A tall, fair man still in his thirties, had stopped and raised his hat.

"Why, it's Mr. Steell!" exclaimed Ray, her pleasure at the meeting
betraying itself in the tone of her voice.

"Do you doubt my ability to take care of you? Could any man wish for a
more congenial task?"

"Flatterer!" laughed Helen. Cordially she added: "I'm awfully glad to
see you. It was very good of you to come and see Ken off."

"Nonsense," exclaimed the newcomer. "I wanted to come--if only to make
sure he wouldn't change his mind. I'm as anxious to see those diamonds
as you are."

"Hush!" said Helen putting up her finger to her mouth while Ray's
attention was momentarily diverted elsewhere. "No one knows--not even
Ray. It's a great secret."

An anxious look passed over the young man's face. He hadn't approved
of this South African trip. It was wholly unnecessary. In his opinion
his old chum was taking a great risk.

"That's right," he muttered. "You can't be too careful."

In metropolitan legal circles Wilbur Steell was looked upon as the
coming man. His success in the courts had given him a wide reputation
before he was five and thirty, and his gifts as a public speaker, his
strong, aggressive personality made more than one political leader
anxious to secure his services. Already he was mentioned as district
attorney. Even the Governorship might have been his for the asking.
But he showed no liking for politics. His sympathies leaned more
towards the literary, intellectual life. Having all the money he
needed, he preferred to keep out of the social and political maelstrom,
leading a quiet life, following his own tastes and inclinations.
Match-making mammas saw in him a prize, but so far he had shown no
disposition to marry. He cultivated few people, in fact, was
considered somewhat of a misanthrope. Kenneth he had known all his
life. They