have been out a number of times." And the girl blushed again.

"I know some parties connected with that firm. What's the young man's
name, Letty?"

"Mr. Tom Ostrello."

"Indeed! And he has invited you to go to the theatre with him?"

"Yes. Then you know him, Uncle Adam? I didn't dream of that. Don't
you think he is--is rather nice?"

"Evidently you think so." For some reason the detective could scarcely
steady his voice. He was a bachelor, with only some distant relatives,
and he thought a good deal of his protegee and her welfare.

"I--I do, Uncle Adam. He treats me so nicely. I--I--don't you approve
of him?" she went on hastily, searching his face for the smile that
usually rested there when he spoke to her.

"Why, I--er--I don't know him so well as all that, Letty." For the
first time in his life he was visibly confused. "You say he has called
on you a number of times?"

"Yes, and he has taken me out, let me see, I guess it must be a dozen
times all told. I--I wanted to speak of this before, but I--well, I
couldn't bring it around. I hope you'll approve, Uncle Adam."

"Approve? Of your going out with him?"

"Yes, and--and--" The girl hesitated again. Then she arose and
buried her face on his shoulder. "Oh! don't you understand, Uncle
Adam?"

"Letty!"

"He is very nice--I know you'll like him when you get to really know
him. Of course he hasn't much money, but I don't care for that. You
always said money didn't count for so much anyway--that it was
character--and he's got that."

"Hum!" For the life of him Adam Adams could not speak. He felt
himself growing hot and cold by turns. He caught the girl closer.
Never had he loved his friend's daughter so much as now.

"I hoped you would approve," she went on, shyly. "I--of course I
didn't want to leave you--you've been so very good to me since papa and
mamma died. But--but Tom doesn't seem to want to wait. He has asked
me twice now and--and--I don't know how I am going to put him off. He
seems so miserable when I say wait."

"Asked you to marry him?"

"Yes."

"And he wants you to go to the theatre with him--now?"

"The invitation is for to-night--he sent it last week. He has been
traveling out of town, but he said he would be back some time to-day.
I want you to meet him." She paused. "Isn't it all right, Uncle Adam?"

He did not answer, and she gazed at him curiously. Then the look in
his face made her draw back, s