thing
else in the world she wished to please him, but not by confessing her
fondness.

However much she might loathe the thought, she was the wife of Jerold
Fairfax, with everything precious to guard. By the token of the wound
that Garrison had inflicted, she knew that she had wounded him. It
could not have been avoided--there was nothing but a chasm between them.

"Please do not make me feel that I have been utterly despicable," she
pleaded. "You have made no mistakes--in the conduct of the case. I
should be so helpless without you."

Garrison knew he had hurt her. He was sorry. He knew her position was
the only one possible for a woman such as he could love. He reviled
himself for his selfishness. He forced himself now to return her gaze
with no hint of anything save business in his eyes.

"Dorothy, I shall be honored to continue with your work," he said. "I
mean to see you through."

"Thank you--Jerold," she said. Her voice all but broke. She had never
loved him so much as now, and because of that had given herself the one
little joy of calling him thus by his name. She added more bravely:
"I'll find a room and send you the address as soon as possible.
Meantime, I hope we will soon discover about this latest will."

"I shall do my best," he assured her. "Let me take you now to the
annex elevator, in case anyone should be waiting to see you at the
other. Get yourself a heavy veil, and be sure you avoid being followed
when you hunt up your room. Take the apartment in the name of Miss
Root, and send me word in that name also, just for precaution. Leave
Fairfax and the others to me. I may go up to Albany about the will."

He opened the door, but she hesitated a moment longer.

"I hope it will all end somehow, for the best," she said. "It's very
hard for you."

He smiled, but not mirthfully.

"It was here in this room I assumed my role," he said, "and here I drop
it."

For a moment she failed to understand.

"Drop it?" she echoed. "How?"

"I'm no longer even your pseudo-husband. I drop the name Fairfax, with
all it might imply."

She blushed crimson and could not meet his gaze.

"I'm sorry if I've been the cause----" she started.

Garrison interrupted.

"I'm glad--glad of everything that's happened. We'll say no more of
that. But--Theodore--how he will gloat over this!"

"If he finds out Mr. Fairfax is crazy, he could overthrow the will,"
suggested Dorothy. "But--what's the u