only TOLERATION then. I did not think this of you, Nell
Darrel. Do you know that many of the wealthiest, most beautiful
maidens of Gotham would jump at the offer you have just spurned so
lightly?"

"I will not deny it."

"I could have long ago taken a partner to share my life in my elegant
home on Fifth avenue, but do you know the reason of my not doing so? I
can tell you. I had not seen a girl to my taste. Until I came West I
believed I should never marry. From the moment of meeting you,
however, I changed my mind. To see was to love, and--"

"Please cease, Mr. Elliston," pleaded Nell Darrel, putting out her
hand deprecatingly. "This is a most painful subject to me."

"Very well."

With a sigh he crossed the floor and stood by the window once more. He
seemed struggling to keep down his emotions. At that moment the
detective's sister pitied the man, and felt really sorry that she had
unintentionally been the means of making him miserable.

"Mr. Elliston, please do not feel so badly. I respect you, and hope we
may ever be friends."

She approached him and held out her hand. He turned and regarded her
with a queer glow in his eyes.

"I accept your proffer of continued friendship," he said with a forced
smile. "It is better so than open war between us."

"It would avail nothing to make war on a friend," she said simply. "I
respect you very highly, Mr. Elliston, and as Dyke's friend, shall
always hope to retain your good opinion."

"Whatever may happen, you will have that," he returned.

Soon after the gentleman departed. The moment he was gone Nell Darrel
sank to a chair, and, bowing her head on the table, began to cry.

Strange proceeding, was it not, after what had taken place? Women are
enigmas that man, after ages of study, has been unable to solve.

Another face came before the girl's mind at that moment, the face of
one to whom her heart had been given in the past, and who, for some
unaccountable reason, had failed to put in an appearance or write
during the past six months.

"If Harry were only here," murmured the girl, as she raised her head
and wiped the tears from her pretty eyes. "I know something has
happened to him--something terrible."

At this moment Aunt Jule, the colored housekeeper, the only other
resident of the cottage, aside from Nell Barrel and her brother,
entered the room, and her appearance at once put an end to Nell's
weeping.

"Marse Elliston done gone. What did he want, hone