s
another."

Balcome said no more. But he exchanged a look with Sue.

She glanced from Clare to Wallace, puzzled and troubled. Then,
"I--I--don't know what this is all about," she ventured, "and I don't
want to know. I just want to tell you, Miss Crosby, that--that he
grieves for you--terribly. Oh, see him again! Forgive him if he's
done anything! Give him another chance!"

"You're talking about something you don't understand," answered Clare,
rudely.

Sue shook her head. "Well, I think I know a broken heart when I see
one," she returned simply.

To that, Clare made no reply. "These gentlemen are going," she said.
"And I wish you'd go too."

"Then I can't help him--and you?"

In sudden rage, Clare came toward her, voice raised almost to a shout.
"Help! Help! Help!" she mocked. "I don't want help! I want to be
let alone!--And I can't waste any more time. You'll have to excuse
me!" She faced about abruptly and disappeared into her own room,
banging the door.

Sue lowered her head, and knitted her brows in a look of defeat that
was almost comical. "Well," she observed presently, "as Ikey says,
'Always you can't do it.'"

Seeing the way clear for himself, her brother's attitude became more
sure. "I'm afraid you've only made things worse," he declared.

Balcome flapped his hat. "We had her in pretty good temper--for a
woman."

Thus championed, the younger man grew even bolder. "And I thought you
were going to keep out of this," he went on; "you promised mother----"

Now of a sudden, Sue lost that manner at once apologetic and childlike.
"When did you know Miss Crosby?" she demanded of Wallace, sharply.
"How long ago?"

"The year I met Alan.--I was eighteen."

"And _you_ didn't have anything to do with this trouble? You're not
responsible in any way?"

"Now why are you coming at me?" expostulated her brother. There was an
unpleasant whine in his voice.

But Balcome failed to note it. "By golly!" he complained. "Women are
all alike!"

"I'm coming at you," explained Sue, "because I know Alan Farvel. And I
don't believe he could do any woman such a hurt that she wouldn't want
to see him again, or forgive him. That's why."

"But you think _I_ could! I must say, you're a nice sister!"

"_I_ must say that your whole attitude today has been curious, to put
it mildly."

"If I don't satisfy your woman's curiosity, you get even by putting me
in the wrong." Again there was that unpl