e telephone, he picked up the receiver. In a tone of
irritation, the lawyer said:

"Then all that talk about your baggage and room----"

"All hot air," nodded the other. "I had to say something--or I'd have
broken down. What's the number of the hotel?"

"207 Tocquencke," replied the lawyer. Looking at the young man, he went
on: "You're a peculiar fellow, Chase."

"Yes, I know," said the other indifferently. "Give me 207, and get Mrs.
James Marsh on the 'phone. Hello--yes--will you please tell her to come
over to 'Sea Rest' at once and ask for Mr. Chase? Yes, thank you."

Turning to the lawyer he went on:

"It unnerves me to see her in this place--locked in with a bunch of dips
and nervous wrecks--compelled to come and go at their call. By God! it's
awful, and to think I have to sit here powerless to move a finger on her
behalf!" Scornfully he added: "You're a nice lawyer, or she wouldn't
have stayed here twenty-four hours! Can't we dope out something--are we
going to let them cook up all those schemes while we sit back and watch
them?"

"I am doing everything I can," replied Mr. Ricaby calmly. "Our case
comes up next week----"

"Next week!" cried Tod. "She'll be a nervous wreck by then! Can't you
see how worried she is? We must get her out of this place at once--if we
have to break out with a jimmy. Jimmy! I wish I had him here, I'd wring
his neck!"

The lawyer looked at his companion in grave silence. Then he said
quietly:

"You think a great deal of Miss Marsh, don't you?"

"Think a great deal of her?" exclaimed Tod. "Ha! ha! The truth of the
matter is that I-- Ricaby-- I-- I-- I'd marry her to-morrow--if--if
she'd have me!"

Mr. Ricaby turned pale. Only by a great effort was he able to control
himself. Yet by what right could he interfere? Paula cared more for this
man than she admitted. He felt that. Why should he selfishly stand
between them? Was that worthy of one who prided himself on his altruism?

"You would marry her?" he cried hoarsely.

Not noticing his companion's agitation, unaware of the pain he was
inflicting, Tod went on:

"Yes, a fine position, ain't it? The first girl I really cared for
locked up in a--in a--well, we'll call it a sanitarium. In order to get
out she's got to face a public trial to prove she ought not to be there
for the rest of her life. How many experts have we on our side?"

"Fifteen!" replied Mr. Ricaby.

"Why don't you get fifty?" cried the young man heatedly.