ry, sitting down on the tablecloth. "It's a
letter from Gardner--my broker and man of business generally--written
last night to tell me that one of these swaggering capitalists has got
hold of the Winhalla Railway scheme, and is going to make things hum.
Shares are going up already; and they'll run sky high by the end of the
week. It's bound to be all right. It was always sound enough. It only
wanted capital. He doesn't tell me the bounder's name, but that's no
matter. I don't want to go into partnership. I shall sell, sell, sell,
at the top of the boom. Gardner's to be trusted. He'll know--and
then--and then----"

"Yes; what does it mean?" the girl broke in. "I want to know exactly,
Jerry!"

"Mean?" he echoed, his hands upon her shoulders. "It means emancipation,
wealth, everything we've lost back again, and more to it! Now do you
understand?"

She gasped for breath. She had turned very pale.

"Oh, Jerry!" she said tragically. "Jerry, why didn't this happen
before?"

He stared at her for a moment. Then, as understanding came to him, he
frowned with swift impatience.

"Oh, that must be broken off!" he said. "You can't marry that fellow
now. Why should you?"

Violet shook her head hopelessly.

"I've promised," she said; "promised to marry him at the end of next
month."

Jerry jumped up impulsively.

"But that's soon arranged," he declared. "Leave it to me. I'll explain."

"How can you?" questioned Violet.

"I shall put it on a purely business footing," he returned airily.
"Don't you worry yourself. He isn't the sort of chap to take it to
heart. You know that as well as I do. Perhaps it might be as well to
wait till the end of the week and make sure of things, though, before I
say anything."

But at this point Violet gave him the biggest surprise he had ever
known. She sprang to her feet with flashing eyes.

"Indeed you won't, Jerry!" she exclaimed. "You will tell him
to-day--this morning--and end it definitely. Never mind what happens
afterwards. I won't carry the dishonourable bargain to that length. I've
little enough self-respect left, but what there is of it I'll keep!"

"Heavens above!" ejaculated Jerry, in amazement. "What's the matter now?
I was only thinking of you, after all."

"I know you were," she answered passionately. "But you're to think of
something greater than my physical welfare. You're to think of my
miserable little rag of honour, and do what you can for that, if you
really wan