uspense.

"Uncle won't be in till after twelve, so there's no fear. Aunt has gone
to bed--she's upset with quarrelling about this marriage. Mind! You
won't stir if Eve comes in. Don't talk loud; I must keep listening for
the door."

"But what is it? Where is Eve?"

"I don't know. She didn't come home till very late last night, and I
don't know where she was. You remember what you asked me to promise?"

"To let me know if you were anxious about her."

"Yes, and I am. She's in danger I only hope----"

"What?"

"I don't like to tell you all I know. It doesn't seem right. But I'm so
afraid for Eve."

"I can only imagine one kind of danger----"

"Yes--of course, it's that--you know what I mean. But there's more than
you could fancy."

"Tell me, then, what has alarmed you?"

"When did you see her last?" Patty inquired.

"More than a week ago. Two or three days before I came here."

"Had you noticed anything?"

"Nothing unusual."

"No more did I, till last Monday night. Then I saw that something was
wrong. Hush!"

She gripped his arm, and they listened. But no sound could be heard.

"And since then," Patty pursued, with tremulous eagerness, "she's been
very queer. I know she doesn't sleep at night, and she's getting ill,
and she's had letters from--someone she oughtn't to have anything to do
with."

"Having told so much, you had better tell me all," said Hilliard
impatiently. There was a cold sweat on his forehead, and his heart beat
painfully.

"No. I can't. I can only give you a warning."

"But what's the use of that? What can I do? How can I interfere?"

"I don't know," replied the girl, with a helpless sigh. "She's in
danger, that's all I call tell you."

"Patty, don't be a fool! Out with it! Who is the man? Is it some one
you know?"

"I don't exactly know him I've seen him."

"Is he--a sort of gentleman?"

"Oh, yes, he's a gentleman. And you'd never think to look at him that
he could do anything that wasn't right."

"Very well. What reason have you for supposing that he's doing wrong?"

Patty kept silence. A band of rowdy fellows just then came shouting
along the street, and one of them crashed up against the shop door,
making Patty jump and scream. Oaths and foul language followed; and
then the uproar passed away.

"Look here," said Hilliard. "You'll drive me out of my senses. Eve is
in love with this man, is she?"

"I'm afraid so. She was."

"Before she went away, you mean. And,