rmerly occupied by one of the
leading banks of Ophir, and was situated on the corner of two of its
principal streets. Of the three handsome private offices in the rear Mr.
Underwood occupied the one immediately adjoining the general offices;
the next, separated from the first by a narrow entrance way, had been
appropriated by Mr. Walcott, while the third, communicating with the
second and opening directly upon the street, was now fitted up for
Darrell's occupancy. The carpets and much of the original furnishing of
the rooms still remained, but in the preparation of Darrell's room Kate
Underwood and her aunt made numerous trips in their carriage between the
offices and The Pines, with the result that when Darrell took possession
many changes had been effected. Heavy curtains separated that portion of
the room in which the laboratory work was to be done from that to be
used as a study, and to the latter there had been added a rug or two, a
bookcase in which Darrell could arrange his small library of scientific
works, a cabinet of mineralogical specimens, and a pair of paintings
intended to conceal some of Time's ravages on the once finely decorated
walls, while palms and blooming plants transformed the large plate-glass
windows into bowers of fragrance and beauty, at the same time forming a
screen from the too inquisitive eyes of passers-by.

Just as Darrell was completing the arrangement of his effects, Mr.
Underwood and his partner sauntered into the room from their apartments.
Within a few feet of the door Mr. Underwood came to a stop, his hands
deep in his trousers pockets, his square chin thrust aggressively
forward, while, with a face unreadable as granite, his keen eyes scanned
every detail in the room. Mr. Walcott, on the contrary, made the entire
circuit of the room, his hands carelessly clasped behind him, his head
thrown well back, his every step characterized by a graceful, undulatory
motion, like the movements of the feline tribe.

"H'm!" was Mr. Underwood's sole comment when he had finished his survey
of the room.

Mr. Walcott turned towards his partner with a smile. "Mr. Darrell is
evidently a prime favorite with the ladies," he remarked, pleasantly.

"Well, they don't want to try any of their prime favorite business on
me," retorted Mr. Underwood, as he slowly turned and left the room.

Both young men laughed, and Walcott, with an easy, nonchalant air,
seated himself near Darrell.

"I find the old ge