guided us, and will do so to
His own end."

From his wife's room Adam Salton went straight to the study in the tower,
where he knew Sir Nathaniel would be at that hour. The old man was
alone, so, when he had entered in obedience to the "Come in," which
answered his query, he closed the door and sat down beside him.

"Do you think, sir, that it would be well for me to buy Diana's Grove?"

"God bless my soul!" said the old man, startled, "why on earth would you
want to do that?"

"Well, I have vowed to destroy that White Worm, and my being able to do
whatever I may choose with the Lair would facilitate matters and avoid
complications."

Sir Nathaniel hesitated longer than usual before speaking. He was
thinking deeply.

"Yes, Adam, there is much common sense in your suggestion, though it
startled me at first. I think that, for all reasons, you would do well
to buy the property and to have the conveyance settled at once. If you
want more money than is immediately convenient, let me know, so that I
may be your banker."

"Thank you, sir, most heartily; but I have more money at immediate call
than I shall want. I am glad you approve."

"The property is historic, and as time goes on it will increase in value.
Moreover, I may tell you something, which indeed is only a surmise, but
which, if I am right, will add great value to the place." Adam listened.
"Has it ever struck you why the old name, 'The Lair of the White Worm,'
was given? We know that there was a snake which in early days was called
a worm; but why white?"

"I really don't know, sir; I never thought of it. I simply took it for
granted."

"So did I at first--long ago. But later I puzzled my brain for a
reason."

"And what was the reason, sir?"

"Simply and solely because the snake or worm _was_ white. We are near
the county of Stafford, where the great industry of china-burning was
originated and grew. Stafford owes much of its wealth to the large
deposits of the rare china clay found in it from time to time. These
deposits become in time pretty well exhausted; but for centuries Stafford
adventurers looked for the special clay, as Ohio and Pennsylvania farmers
and explorers looked for oil. Anyone owning real estate on which china
clay can be discovered strikes a sort of gold mine."

"Yes, and then--" The young man looked puzzled.

"The original 'Worm' so-called, from which the name of the place came,
had to find a direct way down to t