ssed her royal
birth."

"Well! Good Lord! Then--?"

"Well, they eloped--who knows? Whether married or not, I can not say.
But it is evident she went with him to Colombia, where, perhaps, he
was seeking a concession from Congress in Bogota. So far, so good.
Then came the news of his father's sudden death. He hastened out of
the country. Possibly he bade her wait for his return. But a
prospective mother is often excitable. She waited a day, a week--who
knows how long? And then she set out to follow him. Alas! she was wild
to do such a thing. And it cost her life. She died at the little
riverine town of Badillo, after her babe, Carmen, was born. Is it not
plausible?"

"God above!" cried Haynerd. "And the girl's wonderful voice?"

"A heritage from her grandfather, the tenor, Marfori," Lafelle
suggested.

"But--the portraits--what is the name under that of Ames? Guillermo?
That is not his!"

"Yes, for Guillermo in Spanish is William. Doubtless Ames told her his
name was Will, contracted from Wilton, the name he went by in his
youth. And the nearest the Spanish could come to it was Guillermo.
Diego's name was Guillermo Diego Polo. And after he had seen that name
in the locket he used it as a further means of strengthening his claim
upon the girl."

"Then--she is--a--princess!"

"Yes, doubtless, if my reasoning is correct. Not an Inca princess, but
a princess of the reigning house of Spain."

Haynerd could hold himself no longer, but rushed madly from the room
and tore across town to the office of the Express.

Then came the white-enameled ambulance, dashing and careening to the
doors of the building where Ames lay so quiet. Gently, silently, the
great body was lifted and borne below. And then the chattering,
gesticulating mob poured from the court room, from the halls and
corridors, and out into the chill sunlight of the streets, where they
formed anew into little groups, and went over again the dramatic
events but a few minutes past.

Then, too, emerged Carmen, heavily veiled from the curious, vulgar
gaze of the rabble, and entered the waiting limousine, with the
Beaubien and Hitt. Miss Wall and the gasping Jude followed in another.
The judge had bidden the girl go on her own recognizance. The arrest
at Avon; the matter of bail; all had merged into the excitement of the
hour and been forgotten. Ketchim went out on Cass's arm. The judge had
ordered the clerk to enter an adjournment.

*