lanned and chosen, I thank you again and again for the valuable
facts you have placed so confidingly in my possession, in regard to
yourself and your work. Rest assured my interest and assistance
henceforth are at your command. You will understand this more clearly
when I tell you that Bitterwood & Barnard are my attorneys, and the
advertisement which played such an important part in bringing us
together here in these mountains, was drawn up by them for my purposes.
That it should bring to me a person of your wonderful ability,
integrity, skill and knowledge, is an almost unhoped for piece of good
fortune. You are the one, of all others, most eminently fitted to help
me to a successful solution of my problem, which you have so admirably
stated. Hereafter I am your debtor. I hope to prove a not unworthy
employer, or, to put it more pleasantly, an interested co-worker. Will
you do me the favor of considering yourself as pledged from this moment
to take up my work? Go at once to my attorneys in Washington, ask them
for a letter of introduction to me, that you may get more complete
details of my plans and work, saying not a word of our present
acquaintance. I will furnish you with a check on my Washington bankers,
with which to defray your expenses. To-morrow, in company with Mrs.
Bainbridge, I go to my summer home on the Hudson near Newburgh, where
letters will reach me. This is the twenty-eighth of August; on the fifth
of September, at noon meet me in the station at Newburgh. Come prepared
to devote a week at the least in discussing the scope and plan of our
work, devising ways and means etc. I very much desire that you have an
interview with my father, I know he will be pleased with you. Do these
arrangements suit your convenience? Do they meet your entire approval?"

"I am greatly elated," said Fillmore Flagg, "at this my golden
opportunity of commencing what you have so kindly named as 'our' work,
under such auspicious circumstances. I thank you, Miss Fenwick, more
than words can tell, for your confidence in my integrity and ability, I
will do my best to retain that confidence. I am ready to start for
Washington to-morrow. I will follow your instructions, and will report
to you by letter from that city, and then meet you at Newburgh at the
appointed time."

As he finished his reply Fern Fenwick said: "Mr. Flagg, I am very much
pleased with your prompt decision in favor of my arrangements. I see our
friends returning f