rned to the living-room, raised one of the windows and unbolted the
front door to make sure of an exit in case these strange, foolish Talbots
should unexpectedly return. The shades were up and he shielded his light
carefully with his cap as he passed rapidly about the room. It began to
look very much as though Shaver would spend Christmas at Happy Hill
Farm--a possibility that had not figured in The Hopper's calculations.

Flashing his lamp for a last survey a letter propped against a lamp on the
table arrested his eye. He dropped to the floor and crawled into a corner
where he turned his light upon the note and read, not without difficulty,
the following:--

_Seven o'clock._
_Dear Roger:--_

I've just got back from father's where I spent the last three
hours talking over our troubles. I didn't tell you I was going,
knowing you would think it foolish, but it seemed best, dear,
and I hope you'll forgive me. And now I find that you've gone
off with Billie, and I'm guessing that you've gone to _your_
father's to see what you can do. I'm taking the trolley into New
Haven to ask Mamie Palmer about that cook she thought we might
get, and if possible I'll bring the girl home with me. Don't
trouble about me, as I'll be perfectly safe, and, as you know, I
rather enjoy prowling around at night. You'll certainly get back
before I do, but if I'm not here don't be alarmed.

We are so happy in each other, dear, and if only we could get
our foolish fathers to stop hating each other, how beautiful
everything would be! And we could all have such a merry, merry
Christmas!

MURIEL.

The Hopper's acquaintance with the epistolary art was the slightest, but
even to a mind unfamiliar with this branch of literature it was plain that
Shaver's parents were involved in some difficulty that was attributable,
not to any lessening of affection between them, but to a row of some sort
between their respective fathers. Muriel, running into the house to write
her note, had failed to see Roger's letter in the studio, and this was
very fortunate for The Hopper; but Muriel might return at any moment, and
it would add nothing to the plausibility of the story he meant to tell if
he were found in the house.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

VI

Anxious and dejected at the increasing difficulties that confronted him,
he was moving toward