was
before his eyes, the sound of surging waters in his ears.

"OLD COLLEGE CHUM,"--it began,--"For the sake of those happy hours of
our school-days, you will please favor me by reading what I have
written to the end.

"If you love Pluma Hurlhurst better than your sense of honor this
letter is of no avail. I can not see you drifting on to ruin without
longing to save you. You have been cleverly caught in the net the
scheming heiress has set for you. It is certainly evident she loves
you with a love which is certainly a perilous one. There is not much
safety in the fierce, passionate love of a desperate, jealous woman.
You will pardon me for believing at one time your heart was elsewhere.
You will wonder why I refer to that; it will surprise you to learn,
that one subject forms the basis of this letter. I refer to little
Daisy Brooks.

"You remember the night you saw little Daisy home, burning with
indignation at the cut direct--which Pluma had subjected the pretty
little fairy to? I simply recall that fact, as upon that event hangs
the terrible sequel which I free my conscience by unfolding. You had
scarcely left the Hall ere Pluma called me to her side.

"'Do not leave me, Lester,' she said; 'I want to see you; remain until
after all the guests have left.'

"I did so. You have read the lines:

"'Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned,
Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned'?

"They were too truly exemplified in the case of Pluma Hurlhurst when
she found you preferred little golden-haired Daisy Brooks to her own
peerless self. 'What shall I do, Lester,' she cried, 'to strike his
heart? What shall I do to humble his mighty pride as he has humbled
mine?' Heaven knows, old boy, I am ashamed to admit the shameful
truth. I rather enjoyed the situation of affairs. 'My love is turned
to hate!' she cried, vehemently. 'I must strike him through his love
for that little pink-and-white baby-faced creature he is so madly
infatuated with. Remove her from his path, Lester,' she cried, 'and I
shall make it worth your while. You asked me once if I would marry
you. I answer _now_: remove that girl from his path, by fair means or
foul, and I give you my hand as the reward, I, the heiress of
Whitestone Hall.'

"She knew the temptation was dazzling. For long hours we talked the
matter over. She was to furnish money to send the girl to school, from
which I was shortly to abduct her. She little cared wh