hair, turned and met him face to face. It
was Rachel Hemphill, and she was as pale as he when she realized who had
so summarily invaded her retreat.

"Why, Dan!" she said under her breath. "Is--are you--what has happened?"

"Sh-h! Rachel." He stepped past her and wedged himself in behind the
chair, where he was well protected. "I've got no business here. I ain't
dressed up. But I followed a man--I thought I knew him. Say, Rachel, do
you remember Lozcoski?"

"Lozcoski? Why--oh, do you mean that low fellow that tried to fire the
Works?"

"That's the fellow."

"Of course I do! Why?" She stepped closer and stood over him--she was
taller than he--in such a way that no one could see him from the room
beyond. "But Dan, he's in prison, isn't he? Don't you know how they said
he raved and took on in his jargon, and nobody could understand him. He
couldn't speak English at all, could he?"

"Not much. They managed to make out he was furious with Murfree,
though--I suppose because he denounced him--and evidently was making
threats against the old man. At any rate he kept up some kind of a howl
about him all the time. I s'pose I ought to make sure, and let Murfree
know, if 'tis him."

"You don't mean that Lozcoski's here, do you?"

"Well, that's the question. I--I wish you'd look him up for me, Rachel.
I ain't fixed up for this, and I want to get out."

He spoke almost pathetically, shrinking back into his corner like a
scared child, and Rachel's eyes began to dance. Something in the
situation pleased her wonderfully. That Dan, who had scarcely spoken to
her since the tragedy of his brother's death, should be cringing and
pleading before her, all his prideful gloom quivering into a girlish
terror of being seen in old clothes, was very satisfying to her. She
would have liked to prolong the situation, but could not bring herself
to torture her old playmate.

"I'll go, Dan," she whispered, "and you stay here till I get back. I'll
bring Murfree to you, for he might not pay any attention to me.
Nobody'll notice you if you keep this big chair before you. Just squat
down on that round footstool thing in the corner. I'll be back in a
minute."

Dan squatted, nodding meekly. Rachel adjusted the chair with attention,
then hurried away, after a last glance at her captive, a new light on
her really high-bred face. As she passed out into the hall she saw her
mother in loud and busy talk, and hurried to her side.

"I've decided not