of mine lately
to get things mixed up. Peter is helping me to see straight. That's
why I like to talk with him."

"He sees so straight himself."

"That's it."

"If only now he recovers his eyes."

"He says there's hope."

"It all depends upon her," she said.

"Upon this woman?"

"Upon this one woman."

"If she realized it--"

"She does," broke in Beatrice. "I made her realize it. I went to her
and told her."

"You did that?"

She raised her head in swift challenge.

"Even though Peter commanded me not to--even though I knew he would
never forgive me if he learned."

"You women are so wonderful," breathed Monte.

"With Peter's future--with his life at stake--what else could I do?"

"And she, knowing that, refused to come to him?"

"Fate brought us to her."

"Then," exclaimed Monte, "what are you doing here?"

She stopped and faced him. It was evident that he was sincere.

"You men--all men are so stupid at times!" she cried, with a little
laugh.

He shook his head slowly.

"I 'll have to admit it."

"Why, he's with her now," she laughed. "That's why I stayed at home
to-day."

Monte held his breath for a second, and then he said:--

"You mean, the woman Peter loves is--is Marjory Stockton?"

"No other. I thought he must have told you. If not, I thought you
must have guessed it from her."

"Why, no," he admitted; "I did n't."

"Then you've had your eyes closed."

"That's it," he nodded; "I've had my eyes closed. Why, that explains a
lot of things."

Impulsively the girl placed her hand on Monte's arm.

"As an old friend of hers, you'll use your influence to help Peter?"

"I 'll do what I can."

"Then I'm so glad I told you."

"Yes," agreed Monte. "I suppose it is just as well for me to know."

CHAPTER XX

PAYING LIKE A MAN

Everything considered, Monte should have been glad at the revelation
Beatrice made to him. If Peter were in love with Marjory and she with
Peter--why, it solved his own problem, by the simple process of
elimination, neatly and with despatch. All that remained for him to do
was to remove himself from the awkward triangle as soon as possible.
He must leave Marjory free, and Peter would look after the rest. No
doubt a divorce on the grounds of desertion could be easily arranged;
and thus, by that one stroke, they two would be made happy, and
he--well, what the devil was to become of him?

The answer was obvious. It did not matter a pi