he gazed at him in
perplexity and then gave a slight shiver.

"You--you have come to take me to prison," she cried.

"Not at all, Miss Langmore," he answered, dropping into a chair by her
side. "You shall never go to prison if I can prevent it. But I came
to see you about something else. Do you feel a bit stronger?"

"No, I feel very weak. What do you want to see me about, if not about
the--"

"Oh, I want to ask you about some of the men with whom your father did
business."

"Didn't you ask me that before?"

"Perhaps I did. But I want you to give me all the information you
possibly can."

"I will."

"In the first place, you know Matlock Styles."

"Why, yes, I know him fairly well."

"He had some business dealings with your father."

"Yes, he owed my father money on several mortgages."

"Did they have any other business relations?"

"I think Mr. Styles had some interest in one of my father's
patents--or, at least he claimed an interest. He and my father had
some differences of opinion in the matter."

"Was the patent matter settled up?"

"I do not know, but I do not think so."

"Can you tell me anything else about Mr. Styles?"

The girl hesitated and then a flush mounted to her face. "Yes, I can.
I--I did not wish to speak of it before, yet I see no harm in doing so.
About four months ago Mr. Styles asked me to marry him. I told him I
could not do so. He was very persistent and said he had more money
than I imagined. I told him that that would make no difference, that I
did not love him and did not wish him to mention the matter again."

"How did he take your refusal?"

"He was very bitter and overbearing. He said I had better think it
over, and he hinted something about having my father in his power. He
did not say it in just so many words but he hinted at it."

"Did he mean about the patent?"

"No, I think it was something else. But I did not pay much attention,
for I thought he was talking merely to get me to consider his suit, and
I did not wish to consider it, for I had become acquainted with
Raymond."

"Did he ever bother you after that?"

"Only once, when I met him on the road. Then he asked me again, and
said I'd be sorry some day if I refused him."

"Humph!" Adam Adams mused for a moment. "Now to change the subject.
When did Matlock Styles last call on your father?"

"He called several times last week. I don't know exactly when he
called last. But I do know that