that your father is a mere child; that he cannot
be trusted to know what is best; that you, a chit of a youngster, know
more of human nature than does he, a man of years and experience;
that----'

'Oh, dear!' cried Helen. 'You are wonderful, pops, in your way. You
are the best papa in the world. But, after all, you are just a baby in
the claws--or hands of a designing creature like that hideous Sanchia.
And----'

'And, my dear,' maintained Longstreet belligerently, the stubbornness
now rampant in his soul, 'you are mistaken, that is all. You and I
disagree upon one point; you condemn Mrs. Murray outright, because of
certain purely circumstantial evidence against her. That is the way of
hot-headed youth. I, being mature, even-minded and clear-eyed,
maintain that one accused must be given every opportunity to prove
himself innocent. When you say that Mrs. Murray is untrustworthy----'

'I could _pinch_ you!' cried Helen. 'If she robs you again I--I----'
She could think of no threat of punishment sufficient unto the crime.
Suddenly she pulled the door open. 'Come in here,' she called to Alan.
And as he obeyed, leaving the baffled Sanchia without, Helen said
swiftly: 'See if you can't talk reason into papa. I'll keep _her_ out
there.' And she in turn passed out, again closing the door.

'You little vixen!' Sanchia's cheeks were red with anger as, Helen's
manoeuvre complete, the girl stood regarding her with defiant eyes.
Sanchia's hands clenched and the resultant impression given forth by
her whole demeanour was that upon occasion the little widow might be
swept into such passionate rage that she was prone to resort to primal,
physical violence. Helen, though her own cheeks burned, smiled loftily
and made no answer.

From beyond the closed door came Alan's eager voice. Sanchia bent
forward, straining her ears to hear; Helen, the light of battle flaring
steadily higher in her eyes, began suddenly to sing, the same little
broken snatches of song which not so long ago had irritated her
impatient lover and which now confused the words spoken beyond the door
and which made Sanchia furious.

'Stand aside,' commanded Sanchia. 'I am going in.'

Helen stood firm. Then she saw that Sanchia meant what she said. And,
on the table near the discarded pick, she saw Longstreet's big
revolver. She made a quick step forward, snatched it up in both hands
and pointed it directly at Sanchia's heaving breast. Now the c