_ Smith!" Farnsworth spoke so sharply that Azalea
fairly jumped.

But she insisted, "Yes, it is--"

"I _know_ it is not! It was the man who came here to see you one
day,--and whatever his name is, it is not Smith! Tell me the truth or
not, as you choose, but don't try to insist on Smith!"

"All right, then I choose to tell you nothing, I have a perfect right to
have friends telephone me, and I think it shows an ill-bred curiosity
for you to ask their names!"

Azalea's would-be haughty face and her reference to ill-breeding struck
Farnsworth so funny he laughed in spite of himself.

Azalea was quick to take advantage of this.

"Oh, Cousin William," she said, smilingly, "don't be hard on me. I'm
only a wild Western girl, I know, but I'm--I'm your cousin and I claim
your--your--"

Azalea didn't quite know what she _was_ claiming, but as it was really a
cessation of the interview that she most desired, she turned on her heel
and walked rapidly toward the house.

"Hold on!" cried Farnsworth, "not so fast, Zaly. Before you leave me,
listen to this. I am not at all satisfied with what you have told
me,--or, rather, what you have refused to tell me,--and I am going to
write to your father, and ask him why he doesn't write to you."

Azalea stood still, facing him, and her face turned white.

"Oh, no!" she cried, in a tone of dismay, "you _mustn't_ do that!"

"But I will. There's no reason I shouldn't write to my relative. And I
must get at the mystery of this thing."

"Don't do that, Cousin William, don't, I beg of you!" The girl was
greatly excited now. Her face was drawn with terrified apprehension and
her voice shook with fear.

"Why not?" Farnsworth demanded, and he grasped her arm as she tried to
run away. "I'm going to have this out now, Azalea! _Why_ shan't I write
to Uncle Thorpe?"

"Be--because he isn't--he isn't there--"

"Is he dead?"

"Oh, _no_! He's--he's--gone away on a--a business trip."

"You're making up, Azalea,--I see it in your face. Tell me the truth
about him. Has he married again?"

"No,--oh, no."

"Well, then, where is he?"

"He's--I don't know--"

"You don't know where he is,--and yet you claim you had a letter from
him!"

"You say I wrote that letter myself--"

"And you did!"

"Well, then, it was because you insisted on my getting a letter from
him,--and--and that's the only way I could think of."

Azalea gave a half-smile, hoping Farnsworth would laugh, too.

But he