w what to say to him. I may tell Tom?" she
said. "I must tell him; he will be silent as a rock."

Olive smiled. "Yes, you may tell Tom," she said.

"I have told Dick, but on no account must Harry ever know anything
about it."

Mrs. Easterfield looked at her in amazement. That the girl could joke at
such a moment!

When the captain came home Olive told him how she had entrusted the
great secret to Mrs. Easterfield and her husband.

"Well," said he, "I intended to tell you, but haven't had a chance yet,
that I spoke of the matter to Mrs. Faulkner. So I have told two persons
and you have told three, and I suppose that is about the proportion in
which men and women keep secrets."

_CHAPTER XXXVII_

_In which Some Great Changes are Recorded._

A few days after his return to his college Prof. Richard Lancaster found
among his letters one signed "Your backer, Claude Locker."

The letter began:

"You owe her to me. You should never forget that. If I had done
better no one can say what might have been the result. This
proposition can not be gainsaid, for as no one ever saw me do
better, how should anybody know? I knew I was leaving her to you.
She might not have known it, but I did. I did not suppose it would
come so soon, but I was sure it would ultimately come to pass. It
has come to pass, and I feel triumphant. In the great race in which
I had the honor to run, you made a most admirable second. The best
second is he who comes in first. In order for a second to take
first place it is necessary that the leader in the race, be that
leader horse, man, or boat, should experience a change in
conditions. I experienced such a change, voluntary or involuntary
it is unnecessary to say. You came in first, and I congratulate you
as no living being can congratulate you who has not felt for a
moment or two that it was barely possible that he might, in some
period of existence, occupy the position which you now hold.

"Do not be surprised if you hear of my early marriage. Some woman no
better-looking than I am may seek me out. If this should happen, and
you know of it, please think of me with gratitude, and remember that
I was once

"Your backer,

"CLAUDE LOCKER."

Olive also received a letter from Mr. Locker, which ran thus:

"Mrs. Easterfield told me. She wrote me a letter about it, and I
think her