In an incredibly
short time various negligible feminine articles had been examined and
replaced very carefully and exactly, a handkerchief without so much as
a laundry mark, a silver vanity set with no monogram, and then came the
reward to Mr. Dart's curiosity. It was a card case half filled with
calling cards.

Mr. Dart did a thing he had rarely done in his life. He swore. He
said:

"Well, I'll be damned!"

And being alone, speaking confidentially to himself, he may have meant
it. He looked as though he did.

"You are very kind, Miss Leland," the new-comer was saying quietly. "I
should like to accept your hospitality further. It has been a pleasure
to meet you, I am sure. But you will infer from my being abroad at all
at a time like this that my errand is urgent. I must be going
immediately."

Mr. Dart came in at this juncture, his expression void of all emotion
except a deep, unhidden admiration which embraced the two women, both
of whom he felt honoured in including in the list of his friends.

"Miss Hazleton," began Wanda, "I didn't introduce you to Mr. Dart."

"He did," replied the other briefly.

"Sure," supplemented Dart. He handed the black bag to its owner and
asked casually, "You're strong for hitting the pike right away?"

"If you are ready."

"Right-o, Miss Hazleton," he answered, pronouncing the name as though
he enjoyed the sound of it. "I came over on some hurry-up business,"
with a sly look at Wanda that brought a little flush to her cheeks,
"and I didn't unhook. Old Bots is pawing the earth and snorting his
eagerness to help out. Say the word and we're off."

Involuntarily Wanda showed her surprise at the arrangement. It was the
first word she had had of their way lying together.

"The lady's going over to the Bar L-M," Dart remarked as he observed
Wanda's look. "She's a friend of Red's."

"Oh," said Wanda.

She strove immediately to act and speak as though there were nothing
unusual in the situation. Miss Hazleton put on her coat and furs again
without volunteering further information, while Dart hurried away for
his own cart and her horse. Wanda accompanied them to the porch, saw
them seated and starting and then returned to the house with a little
hurt feeling in her heart which she knew was foolish but which she
could not drive out. If Claire Hazleton and Wayne Shandon were upon
such intimate terms that she made this trip to see him, it was a little
strange that