o makes free with my own home?"

Her bravado was extinguished as suddenly as a candle-flame in a gust
of wind.

"_Your_ home?" she parroted witlessly.

"Mine, yes. If you can forgive me." He fumbled for his card-case. "It
has been amusing to play the part you assigned me of amateur
cracksman, but really, I'm afraid, it can't be done without a better
make-up."

He produced and placed before her on the cloth a small white card; and
as soon as its neat black script ceased to writhe and run together
beneath her gaze she comprehended the name of _Mr. Walter Arden
Savage_, with a residence address identical with that of the house
wherein her great adventure had begun.

"You!" she breathed aghast, "you're not _really_ Mr. Savage?"

He smiled indulgently. "I rather think I am."

"But--"

Sally's voice failed her entirely, and he laughed a tolerant little
laugh as he bent forward to explain.

"I don't wonder you are surprised--or at your mistake. The fact is,
the circumstances are peculiar. It's my sister's fault, really; she's
such a flighty little thing--unpardonably careless. I must have warned
her a hundred times, if once, never to leave valuables in that
silly old tin safe. But she won't listen to reason--never would. And
it's her house--her safe. I've got no right to install a better one.
And that is why we're here."

He smiled thoughtfully down his nose. "It's really a chapter of
accidents to which I'm indebted for this charming adventure," he
pursued with a suavely personal nod, "beginning with the blow-out of
the taxicab tire that made us five minutes late for this evening's
boat. We were bound up the Sound, you understand, to spend a fortnight
with a maternal aunt. And our luggage is well on its way there now. So
when we missed the boat there was nothing for it but go by train. We
taxied back here through that abominable storm, booked for Boston by
the eleven ten, and ducked across the way to dine at the Biltmore. No
good going home, of course, with the servants out--and everything. And
just as we were finishing dinner this amiable sister of mine gave a
whoop and let it out that she'd forgotten her jewels. Well, there was
plenty of time. I put her aboard the train as soon as the sleepers
were open--ten o'clock, you know--and trotted back home to fetch the
loot."

A reminiscent chuckle punctuated his account, but struck no echo from
Sally's humour. Moveless and mute, the girl sat unconsciously
clutching