all boy caught in truancy.

"I thought you took things rather quietly, Father--I might have known
it was too good to be true. What did you come here for? You surely
knew it was something we could not have you concerned in."

The priest laughed at Mark's rueful tone.

"You should have known better, Mark, than to think I could be so easily
deceived. I am going to be mixed up in anything that concerns the
welfare of Ruth. Besides," he added, with another quiet laugh, "I
heard everything you two said this morning. I saw Saunders coming down
the hall as I was leaving, and, as it was rather early for a casual
visit, I came back to see what he was up to."

"Then why in--I beg your pardon, Father--why in all common sense,"
blurted out Saunders, "did you come here? You can't help, and we are
taking the only possible way."

"Happily," rejoined Father Murray, "it is not the only way. Come out
of this, and I will tell you something you will be very glad to hear.
Let us get back to your automobile. We must not go very far away, for
we have yet to call at the Ministry, when His Excellency returns."

"To-night?"

"This morning," gently corrected the priest. It was now well on toward
one o'clock.

The three men obeyed him. The ex-fireman got into the automobile,
while Mark and Saunders walked with Father Murray a short distance off.
When they were out of earshot, the priest turned to his companions.

"You two have been working your own plans while I have been working
mine. When you had finished your little secret conference, I went to
St. Patrick's and said Mass. When I returned to the hotel, Mark didn't
seem to appreciate my company, so I left rather early. Before going to
Brookland, I called at the State Department. Happily, I know someone
quite high up, so I had no trouble. I told him the whole story, and he
promised to help me. A few hours ago he sent for me again and--" the
priest smiled at his hearers' evident anxiety to hear the details--"and
everything will be all right now. We are to see the Minister as soon
as he returns from the banquet. He will probably be back by one
o'clock, and he will listen--and listen well--to what I have to say.
The guard will be off before we leave, and Ruth will be at the hotel
before noon."

"But, Father," said Mark, "how can you do it? The State Department
cannot get into this thing officially--cannot interfere at all. It is
too delicate. To-morrow morning Ruth wi