don't know him personally," he replied.
"I never thought I should want him for a physician." He shook his
head musingly.

"I will lay the matter before the trustees and managers at once,"
he said, as Polly rose to go. "I need not ask you," he went on,
"to be whist about this, since I have proof that you can keep a
secret under trying conditions. I thank you more than you will
ever know."

CHAPTER XXXIII

THE PRINCESS AND THE DRAGON

Juanita Sterling moved restlessly about her room, doing this and
that which had no need of being done. It was a mild day for late
September, and she thought of a walk. No, it was nearly time for
the afternoon mail, she would wait. If she could only get a note
from Polly--or from David! One of Polly's notes had never reached
the third-floor comer room! Since that, notes had been conceded to
be dangerous. How she missed Polly's visits! She wondered now if
Polly's interview with Mr. Randolph were really over. That report
could not be entrusted to paper. She wished that her windows were
on the front. She might go into Mrs. Albright's room--no, she had
better remain at home, somebody might come. She took a book and
sat down in the easiest chair; but her thoughts were not on the
printed page. She slammed it back in its place with a mutter of
scorn--scorn for herself.

"Shall I ever stop thinking--of him!"

Meantime, downstairs, the front doorbell had rung. Miss Sniffen
answered it. She usually answered the bell nowadays.

Nelson Randolph stood waiting.

"Good afternoon!" he smiled. "I want to run up to those corner
rooms and see how the light is, now that the windows are shut up.
I think we may have to put in other windows on the side."

"Oh, no, Mr. Randolph, the light is very good, indeed! I don't
think more windows will be necessary."

"Well, maybe not, then; but I'll just take a look at it, seeing I'm
here."

She moved back slowly. "I think Miss Sterling is out; but you can
see the first-floor room."

They went in together, but as the man turned to speak he found that
he was alone. With a smile he cast a leisurely eye around, and
then strode along the hall to the upper staircase.

The superintendent was coming down.

"No use your going up," she said in an unnecessarily low tone.
"One of the ladies says she is out, so we shan't be able to get in."

"Oh, that won't matter!" he replied carelessly. "I'm a good deal
of burglar; I always carry a ske