very long. Uncle
Silas has been a fire insurance man ever since I can remember, but I
never knew what he was actually doing, and I never tried to learn. But
now I really would like to find out, and that is what brings me to you.
I have lived in a kind of unreal atmosphere, and I'm trying now to learn
about something absolutely practical. I hope it won't bore you too
awfully to have things shown to some one who will undoubtedly have to ask
the meaning of everything she sees."

"Not in the least," the old gentleman assured her. "I shall give you an
instructor who likes to explain things." He pressed a button under his
desk. "Ask Mr. Smith to come here," he said to the boy who responded.

"Yes, sir. Excuse me, sir, but Mr. O'Connor is going to Baltimore and he
says he'd like to see you a minute before he goes."

"Ask him to come in. Miss Maitland, let me present Mr. O'Connor, our
Vice-President. Miss Maitland is the niece of Mr. Silas Osgood, and she
has come to look over our offices."

"Very pleased to meet you," said O'Connor. "Sorry I haven't time to help
show you around, myself. I see now that I was wrong when I decided to go
to Baltimore to-day. I felt a little doubtful right along, and now I'm
sure I should have stayed here."

Helen thought that he spoke a trifle too glibly, but she made a civil
reply, and turned to the window while O'Connor received some final advice
from his chief. When the door closed behind him she turned once more,
and as she did so she became aware of a young man who stood in the
doorway looking expectantly at Mr. Wintermuth.

"Ah, you are here, Richard," said the President. "Miss Maitland, this is
Mr. Smith. Miss Maitland is Mr. Silas Osgood's niece, and she wants to
know how the Guardian runs its business. Do you think you can show her?"

"I think I can," replied the younger man, pleasantly. Then, turning to
the girl, he said, "I shall at least be very glad indeed to try."

Mr. Wintermuth then went on to tell what Smith should show the visitor,
and while he was doing this the two younger people looked at one another,
Helen swiftly and Smith with a steadier glance. To him she seemed a girl
of unusual charm, but whether this could have been guessed from his
manner was problematic.

Helen, with discreet but none the less comprehensive scrutiny, saw before
her a man of thirty-three or four years, erect of figure, with a
clean-shaven face and gray eyes. One thing she no