d. I'll call him now."

"All right."

He strolled carelessly in the direction of the stairway, while Laura
moved towards the house. It was dark now outside, and the interior of
the bungalow was already lighted up. Halting just outside the front
door, she called:

"Mr. Brockton! Oh, Mr. Brockton!"

"Yes?" answered the broker's voice from inside.

"Can you spare a moment to come out here?"

"I'll be there presently."

"No--now," she insisted. "You must come now."

"All right, I'm coming."

She waited for him until he appeared.

CHAPTER VIII.

There were few things that Brockton enjoyed more than a game of bridge.
So long as the cards went his way, he was dead to the world. Having
routed his opponents and carried everything before him for the last
half hour, he was feeling in particularly good humor, and it was only
with a mock grimace that he protested at being disturbed.

"Say, Laura, it's a shame to lure me away from that mad speculation in
there. I thought I might make my fare back to New York, if I played
until next summer." Dropping his jesting tone, he inquired
interrogatively: "What's up?"

"Mr. Madison wants to talk to you, or rather I do, and I want him to
listen."

The broker gave her one keen look. She did not have to explain what the
talk was to be about. He understood instinctively. Instantly, his
manner changed. The easy jocularity vanished. Once more he was the
shrewd, hard, calculating business man. Coldly he said:

"Very well--what is it about?"

Descending the steps, he came down the terrace to where Laura and
Madison were seated. The girl began:

"Say, Will----"

"Yes," he answered icily.

"I'm going home day after to-morrow, on the Overland Limited."

He nodded.

"I know."

Awkwardly and glancing nervously at Madison, as if to gain courage, she
went on:

"It was awfully kind of you to come out here and offer to escort me
back to New York, but--under the circumstances--I'd rather you'd take
an earlier--or a later train."

The broker looked from one to the other. Coolly he asked:

"May I ask what circumstances you refer to?"

Timidly she went on:

"Mr. Madison and I are going to be married." She paused for a moment,
as if in a dilemma how best to put it. Finally she said: "He knows of
your former friendship for me, and he thinks it must end."

The broker gave a grunt. He was raging within, but what was the use of
being unpleasant over it? He could not alter