now. I told her," McVay
chuckled, "that I was employed as night watchman at Drake's paper mill.
That of course kept me out all night, and--"

"She must think night watchmen get good wages."

"That was just it. I told her Drake was an old friend of mine, and just
wanted an excuse to give me an allowance until he found me a better job.
You see I just lost a nice job in a bank--"

"I suppose it would be indiscreet to inquire why?"

"Well, we won't discuss it," said McVay with an agreeable smile. "Of
course she could understand that such an inferior position as a
watchman's had to be kept a profound secret, hence our remote mode of
life, and the fact that I don't allow a butcher or baker to come near
us. I tell her that if it were known that I had held such a poor
position, it would interfere with my getting a better. So, if you should
happen to find that you have to explain to her why I am detained here--"

"_If_ I should explain to her," said Geoffrey. "What do you suppose I am
going to do?"

"Well, I suppose you will find it necessary," said McVay. "Indeed, as a
matter of fact, I would much rather have you do it than do it myself.
Still, you might bear in mind to tell her as gently as possible. If she
were your own sister--"

"Oh, go to the devil," said Geoffrey, and slammed the door.

III

Geoffrey was born with a love of adventure, and his dislike to his
present expedition arose not from fear, but from a consciousness that if
he did run into a den of thieves he would think himself such an ass to
have come. Indeed, there seemed a fair chance that he might think this
even if nothing worse happened than that the hut proved empty, for he
would have had a long walk for nothing better than to provide McVay with
an opportunity to escape. He did not see exactly how McVay could get
out, but he was aware that few people would think it wise to leave a
burglar locked in a closet in an empty house with some hours of leisure
at his disposal.

The first glimmering of dawn was visible as he stepped off the piazza;
the wind was blowing fiercely and the snow still falling. He had not
gone a hundred yards before he knew that the expedition was to be more
difficult than he had imagined. To make headway against the wind was a
constant struggle, and he seemed to slip back in the snow at every step.
Still the natural obstinacy of his nature was aroused, and as his
attention was more and more engaged with the endeavor to m