wo hours and a half passed, and then his patient attitude
changed abruptly to action. He saw the soft light hat and the yellow
bush coming toward him. Mr. Feuerstein paled slightly as he recognized
Otto.

"I'm not going to hurt you," said Otto in a tone which Mr. Feuerstein
wished he had the physical strength to punish. "Sit down here--I've
got something to say to you."

"I'm in a great hurry. Really, you'll have to come again."

But Otto's look won. Mr. Feuerstein hesitated, seated himself.

"I want to tell you," said Otto quietly, "that as the result of your
going away so suddenly and not coming back a wicked lying story is
going round about Hilda. She does not know it yet, but it won't be
long before something will be said--maybe publicly. And it will break
her heart."

"I can't discuss her with you," said Mr. Feuerstein. "Doubtless you
mean well. I'm obliged to you for coming. I'll see." He rose.

"Is that all?" said Otto.

"What more can I say?"

"But what are you going to DO?"

"I don't see how I can prevent a lot of ignorant people from gossiping."

"Then you're not going straight down there? You're not going to do
what a man'd do if he had the decency of a dog?"

"You are insulting! But because I believe you mean well, I shall tell
you that it is impossible for me to go for several days at least. As
soon as I honorably can, I shall come and the scandal will vanish like
smoke."

Otto let him go. "I mustn't thrash him, and I can't compel him to be
a man." He returned to the German Theater; he must learn all he could
about this Feuerstein.

"Did you see him?" asked the ticket-seller.

"Yes, but I didn't get anything."

Otto looked so down that the ticket-seller was moved to pity, to
generosity.

"Well, I'll give you a tip. Keep after him; keep your eye on him.
He's got a rich father-in-law."

Otto leaned heavily on the sill of the little window. "Father-in-law?"
A sickening suspicion peered into his mind.

"He was full the other night and he told one of our people he was
married to a rich man's daughter."

"Was the name Brauner?" asked Otto.

"He didn't name any names. But--let me think--they say it's a daughter
of a brewer, away up town. Yes, Ganser--I think that was the name."

"Oh!" Otto's face brightened. "Where is Ganser's place?" he asked.

"I don't know--look in the directory. But the tip is to wait a few
days. He hasn't got hold of any of the old man's mone