att put the card in his pocket-book, and then he
said, "What sort of man is Mr. Putney, doctor?"

"Mr. Putney," said the doctor, with a twinkle of his blue eyes, "is one
of those uncommon people who have enemies. He has a good many because
he's a man that thinks, and then says what he thinks. But he's his own
worst enemy, because from time to time he gets drunk."

"A character," said Matt. "Do you think he's a safe one? Doesn't his
getting drunk from time to time interfere with his usefulness?"

"Well, of course," said the doctor. "It's bad for him; but I think it's
slowly getting better. Yes, decidedly. It's very extraordinary, but ever
since he's been in charge of the Miss Northwicks' interests--"

"Yes; _that's_ what I was thinking of."

"He's kept perfectly straight. It's as if the responsibilities had
steadied him."

"But if he goes on sprees, he may be on the verge of one that's
gathering violence from its postponement," Matt suggested.

"I think not," said the doctor after a moment. "But of course I can't
tell."

"They trust him so implicitly," said Matt.

"I know," said the doctor. "And I know that he's entirely devoted to
them. The fact is, Putney's a very dear friend of mine."

"Oh, excuse me--"

"No, no!" The doctor stayed Matt's apologies. "I understand just what
you mean. He disliked their father very much. He was principled against
him as a merely rich man, with mischievous influence on the imaginations
of all the poor people about him who wanted to be like him--"

"Oh, that's rather good," said Matt.

"Do you think so?" asked the doctor, looking round at him. "Well! I
supposed you would be all the other way. Well! What I was saying was
that Putney looks upon these poor girls as their father's chief victims.
I think he was touched by their coming to him, and has pitied them. The
impression is that he's managed their affairs very well; I don't know
about such things; but I know he's managed them honorably; I would stake
my life on it; and I believe he'll hold out straight to the last. I
suppose," the doctor conjectured, at the end, "that they will try to get
at Northwick now, and arrange with his creditors for his return."

"I don't mind telling you," said Matt, "that it's been tried and failed.
The State's attorney insists that he shall come back and stand his
trial, first of all."

"Oh!" said the doctor.

"Of course, that's right from the legal point of view. But in the
meantime, nobod