tle-baron's daughter met Larry Grant now and then.

Hetty was sitting in a corner of the big room, with Flo Schuyler and
Christopher Allonby close at hand, and during a lull in the conversation
she turned to him with a smile.

"You find us a little dull to-night, Chris?" she said.

Allonby laughed. "There was a time when you delighted in trapping me into
admissions of that kind, but I'm growing wise," he said. "In fact, another
year like this one would make an old man of me. I don't mind admitting
that there is something wrong with the rest. I have told them the stories
they have laughed over the last three years, and could not raise a smile
from one of them; and when I got my uncle started playing cards I actually
believe your father forgot what trumps were, for the first time in his
life!"

"That is significant," said Hetty, whose face had grown serious. "Nothing
has gone well for us lately, Chris."

Allonby sighed. "We don't like to acknowledge it, but it's a fact," he
said. "Still, there's hope yet, if we can just stir up the homestead-boys
into wrecking a railroad bridge or burning somebody's ranch."

"It is a little difficult to understand how that would improve affairs,
especially for the man whose place was burned," said Miss Schuyler drily.

"One can't afford to be too particular," said Allonby, with a deprecating
gesture. "You see, once they started in to do that kind of thing the State
would have to crush them, which, of course, would suit us quite nicely. As
it is, after the last affair at Hamlin's, they have sent in a draft of
cavalry."

"And you are naturally taking steps to bring about the things that would
suit you?" asked Flora Schuyler.

Allonby did not see the snare. "Well," he said, "I am not an admirer of
Clavering, but I'm willing to admit that he has done everything he could;
in fact, I'm 'most astonished they have stood him so long, and I don't
think they would have done so, but for Larry. Anyway, it's comforting to
know Larry is rapidly making himself unpopular among them."

A spot of colour showed in Hetty's cheek, and there was a little gleam in
Flora Schuyler's eyes as she fixed them on the lad.

"You evidently consider Mr. Grant is taking an unwarranted liberty in
persuading his friends to behave themselves as lawful citizens should?"
she said.

"I don't quite think you understand me, of course, one could scarcely
expect it from a lady; but if you look at the thing from our poin