he 's all right at
heart. It's a disagreeable age in a boy." She paused and gazed
steadily at Armitage for a second. "I cannot imagine why you are here,
Mr. McCall. And yet--and yet, I wonder." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Pray don't think me rude," she said and smiled, "but I really
am--hoping. I can read Anne Wellington at times, and you--oh, I _am_
rude--but I seem to read you like an open book."

Armitage was looking at her curiously, but obviously he was not
offended. She stepped towards him impulsively.

"Oh, Mr. Arm--McCall---" she stopped, blushing confusedly.

The break was too much even for Armitage's presence of mind. He jerked
his head upward, then collecting himself resumed his expression of
amused interest. The secretary made no attempt to dissemble her
agitation.

"I am so sorry," she said, "but you must know now that I know whom you
are."

Never in his life had Jack felt quite so ill at ease, or so utterly
foolish.

"Who else knows?" he asked lamely.

"Only one, beside myself--Mrs. Wellington."

"Mrs. Wellington!"

"Naturally," said Miss Hatch placidly. "Did you suppose for a moment
you could successfully hide anything from her? Chief Roberts was in
the house an hour after you were employed."

"Oh!" A great white light illumined Jack's mind. He turned to the
woman eagerly. "Do you know what Roberts told her?"

"Why, everything, I imagine," said Miss Hatch, laughing.

"Everything! But what?" Armitage gestured impatiently. "Please don't
think me inquisitive, but I must know--it will depend upon what our
loquacious chief said, whether I stay here one more minute."

"The chief was not loquacious," smiled Miss Hatch. "He was quite the
reverse. You would have enjoyed the grilling Mrs. Wellington gave him.
He was no willing witness, but finally admitted you were a naval
officer, a son of Senator Armitage, and that you were here to observe
the actions of one of the grooms, formerly in the Navy, whom the
Government thought needed watching."

Inwardly relieved, Armitage grinned broadly.

"I like that chief," he said. "He is so secretive. But Mrs.
Wellington can't be pleased at having a Navy man masquerading about.
Why hasn't she discharged me?"

"I can't imagine," said Miss Hatch frankly, "unless--yes, I think she
has taken a liking to you. Then, for a woman of her mental processes,
discharging you off-hand, come to think of it, would be the one thing
she would not do. I