ith her."

"Ye-es, thank you."

"Why are you going to marry her then--if she'll let you?"

"Now I'm having Joe Powers' railroads and his steamboats and his mines
thrown at me, am I not?" he asked lightly.

"No, I don't think that meanly of you. I know you're a victim of
ambition, but I don't suppose it would take you that far."

He gave her an ironical bow. "Thanks for this testimonial of respect.
You're right. It wouldn't. I'm going to marry Joe Power's daughter, _Deo
volente_ because she is the most interesting woman I know and the most
beautiful one."

"Oh! That's the reason."

"These, plus a sentimental one which I can't uncover to the cynical eyes
of my young cousin that is to be, are my motives; though, mind you, I'm
not fool enough to be impervious to the railroads and the ocean liners
and the mines you didn't mention. I hope my reasons satisfy you," he
added coolly.

"If they satisfy Val they do me, but very likely you'll find they
won't."

"The doubt adds a fillip to the situation."

Her eyes had gone from time to time out of the window. Now she gave a
sigh of relief. "Here we are at the hospital. Oh, I do hope that poor
man is all right!"

"I'm sure he is. He was recovering consciousness when they left.
James helped her out of the cab and they went together up the steps. In
the hall they met Jeff. He had just come down stairs.

"Everything's all right. His head must have struck the asphalt, but
there seems to be no danger."

Alice noticed that the newspaper man spoke to his cousin and not to her.

Part 2

Though Valencia Van Tyle had not made up her mind to get married, James
hit the mark when he guessed that she was interesting herself in the
accessories that would go with such an event. The position she took in
the matter was characteristic. She had gone the length of taking expert
counsel with her New York modiste concerning gowns for the occasion,
without having at all decided that she would exchange her present
independence for another venture into stormy matrimonial seas.

"Perhaps I shatn't have to make up my mind at all," she found amusement
in chuckling to herself. "What a saving of trouble it would be if he
would abduct me in his car. I could always blame him then if it did not
turn out well."

Something of this she expressed to James the evening of the day of the
accident, watching him through half-shuttered eyes to see how he would
take her first concession that she was con