the game, he could not allow her to accomplish. One was
Zen Transley. There was no doubt about it. Zen Transley stood between
him and marriage to any girl. Not that he ever expected to take her
into his life, or be admitted into hers, but in some way she hedged him
about. He felt that everything was not yet settled; he found
himself entertaining a foolish sense that everything was not quite
irrevocable.... And then there was--perhaps--Phyllis Bruce.

When at length, for some reason, Mrs. LeCord visited him alone he
decided to be frank with her.

"You have thought me clever enough to advise you on financial matters?"
he queried, when his visitor had discussed at some length the new loan
in which she was investing.

"Why, yes," she returned, detecting the personal note in his voice. "I
sometimes think, Mr. Grant, you hardly do yourself justice. Even the
hardest old heads on the Exchange are taking notice of you. I have heard
your name mentioned--"

"Then it may be presumed," he interrupted, "that I am clever enough to
know the real purpose of your visits to this office?"

She turned a little in her chair, facing him squarely. "I hardly
understand you, Mr. Grant."

"Then I possess an advantage, because I quite clearly understand you.
I have hesitated, out of consideration for your daughter, to show any
resentment of your behavior. But I must now tell you that when I marry,
if ever I do, I shall choose my wife without the assistance of her
mother, and without regard to her dowry or the size of the family bank
account."

"Oh, I protest!" exclaimed Mrs. LeCord, who had grown very red. "I
protest against any such conclusion. I have seen fit to intrust
my financial affairs to your firm; I have visited you on
business--accompanied at times by my daughter, it is true--but only on
business; recognizing in you a social equal I have invited you to my
house, a courtesy which, so far, you have not found yourself able to
accept; but in all this I have shown toward you surely nothing but
friendliness and a respect amounting, if I may say it, to esteem. But
now that you are frank, Mr. Grant, I too will be frank. You cannot be
unaware of the rumors which have been associated with your name?"

"You mean about Miss Bruce?"

"Ah, then you know of them. You are a young man, and we older people are
disposed to make allowance for the--for that. But you must realize the
great mistake you would be making should you allow this matter to