hip more than ever. I have
noticed for some time that your manner to me has changed. Perhaps
you have believed some of the stories my enemies have circulated
about me. For the sake of our old friendship, Alicia, don't desert
me now. Remember what I once was to you and let me come to your
reception to-night. There's a reason why I must be seen in your
house.

Yours devotedly,
ROBERT UNDERWOOD.

Alicia's face flushed with anger. Turning to the maid, she said:
"There's no answer."

The girl was about to close the door when her mistress suddenly recalled
her.

"Wait a minute," she said; "I'll write a line."

Taking from her dainty escritoire a sheet of perfumed notepaper, she
wrote hurriedly as follows:

"If you dare to come near my house to-night, I will have you put
out by the servants."

Quickly folding the note, she crushed it into an envelope, sealed it,
handed it to the girl, and said:

"Give that to the messenger."

The servant disappeared and Alicia resumed her work of drawing on her
gloves in front of her mirror. How dare he write her such a letter? Was
her house to be made the headquarters for his swindling schemes? Did he
want to cheat more of her friends? The more she thought of all he had
done, the angrier she became. Her eyes flashed and her bosom heaved with
indignation. She wondered what her husband, the soul of honor, would say
if he suspected that she had permitted a man of Underwood's character to
use his home for his dishonest practices. She was glad she had ended it
now, before it was too late. There might have been a scandal, and that
she must avoid at any cost. Mr. Jeffries, she felt certain, would not
tolerate a scandal of any kind.

All at once she felt something brush her cheek. She turned quickly. It
was her husband, who had entered the room quietly.

"Oh, Howard," she exclaimed peevishly; "how you frightened me! You
shouldn't startle me like that."

A tall, distinguished-looking man with white mustache and pointed beard
stood admiring her in silence. His erect figure, admirably set off in a
well-cut dress coat suggested the soldier.

"What are doing alone here, dear?" he said. "I hear carriages outside.
Our guests are arriving."

"Just thinking, that's all," she replied evasively.

He noticed her preoccupied look and, with some concern, he demanded:

"There's nothing to worry you, is there?"

"Oh, no--nothing like that," sh