u--for me--to-day?"
She smiled, though her lips trembled.

"Where have you been?" he pursued, scanning her closely.

She did not reply at once. Then, so low that he scarcely caught the
words, "I--I have been with--a friend."

Sidney Ames came puffing into the office at that moment. "Hello!" he
cried as he saw Carmen. "How does it happen you're out riding with
Willett? Saw him help you out of an auto just now."

"He brought me here," she answered softly.

"Where from?"

"Your father's office."

Hitt and the lad stared at her with open mouths. She turned, and
started for her own room, moving as if in a haze. As she neared the
door she stumbled. Sidney sprang after her and caught her in his arms.
When she turned her face, they saw that her eyes were swimming in
tears.

Hitt was on his feet instantly. "Look here!" he cried. "Something's
wrong! Leave us, Sidney. Let me talk with her alone."

The boy reluctantly obeyed. Hitt closed the door after him, then took
the girl's hand and led her back to his own chair. "Now, little one,"
he said gently, "tell me all about it."

For a moment she sat quiet. Then the tears began to flow; and then she
leaned her head against him and sobbed--sobbed as does the stricken
mother who hangs over the lifeless form of her babe--sobbed as does
the strong man bereft of the friend of his bosom--sobbed as did the
Man of Sorrow, when he held out his arms over the worldly city that
cruelly rejected him. He was the channel for the divine; yet the
wickedness of the human mind broke his great heart. Carmen was not far
from him at that moment.

Hitt held her hand, and choked back the lump that filled his throat.
Then the weeping slowly ceased, and the girl looked up into his
anxious face.

"It's all past now," she said brokenly. "Jesus forgave them that
killed him. And--"

"You have been with--Ames?" said Hitt in a low, quiet tone. "And he
tried to kill you?"

"He--he knew not what he was doing. Evil used him, because as
yet he has no spiritual understanding. But--God is life! There
is--no--death!" Her voice faded away in a whisper.

"Well, little girl, I am waiting for the whole story. What happened?"

Carmen got to her feet. "Nothing happened, Mr. Hitt--nothing. It
didn't happen--it wasn't real. I--I seemed to manifest weakness--and I
fell--to the floor--but I didn't lose consciousness. And just then Mr.
Willett came in--and Mr. Ames sent me here with him."

"But what had Ames sa