e on the street his exasperation broke forth in words. "I can
stand any sort of idiots," he said, "except spook idiots! They make me
want to go back to the Labrador!"

"Sort of queer, though, that message,--from Peter----"

"From Peter--nothing! Don't desecrate that boy's memory by even an
implication that he'd fiddle with a Ouija Board! Ugh!"

"How do you explain it, then?"

"There's nothing to explain."

"You think Crane,--er--misstated?"

"Oh, I think he thought he had a message,--but he was duped. They all
are. I know all about that Sir Rowland. I've read his books. He's dotty
on the subject. Keep off the rocks, Blair. You've a leaning that way,
and if you don't look out you'll fall for it, too."

"Wonder why Mr. Crane shut his wife up when she started to say something
about Carly Harper."

"Oh, that was nothing particular. Anyway, you can see Carly for
yourself. I expect she'll be hard hit by Peter's death. They were
practically engaged."

"How'd you know?"

"Peter told me,--not in words, bless his heart! He just let it out when
he was in a babbling mood. I mean, he let fall side remarks, and I just
gathered the truth. I didn't tell him I knew. Open-hearted as he was,
Peter was reserved in some ways."

"Dear old chap, so he was. Our great work will never materialize now.
Unless I write it alone. I'd like to do that,--and publish it over both
our names, and explain in a preface."

"Do," said Shelby; "it would please the old people a lot."

CHAPTER V

Madame Parlato

Blair's first interview with Carly Harper was painful for both. The
Cranes had told her of Peter's death, but the sight of Blair seemed to
bring home to the girl a further and more vivid realization of her loss.

"I wish now I'd been kinder to him," she said, her voice quivering.

"Oh, come now, Carly, I know you weren't unkind."

"No; but I wouldn't--wouldn't do what he asked me----"

"Never mind, dear; I think I know what you mean, and, let me tell you,
old Peter was happy enough--about you. He seemed pretty sure that things
were coming his way."

"Of course," the girl said frankly. "I only wanted him to go away, free,
and then if he still wanted me when he came back--and now he'll never
come back!" she gave way to silent weeping.

"His parents say he has come back," offered Blair, more by way of
diversion than comfort.

Carly looked up quickly. "They told you that?" she said.

"Yes, told me pretty much all about t