t believe his eyes when he saw me. "The
Lord hath delivered mine enemy into my hand," shone in his evil little
face.

"Why, Mr. Tausig," I cried, before he could get his breath. "How odd to
meet you here! Did you find a baby, too?"

"Did I find--" He glared at me. "I find you; that's enough. Now--"

"But the luncheon was to be at twelve-thirty," I laughed. "And I
haven't changed my dress yet."

"You'll change it all right for something not so becoming if you don't
shell out that paper."

"Paper?"

"Yes, paper. Look here, if you give it back to me this
minute--now--I'll not prosecute you for--for--"

"For the sake of my reputation?" I suggested softly.

"Yes." He looked doubtfully at me, mistrusting the amiable deference
of my manner.

"That would be awfully good of you," I murmured.

He did not answer, but watched me as though he wasn't sure which way
I'd jump the next moment.

"I wonder what could induce you to be so forgiving," I went on
musingly. "What sort of paper is this you miss? It must be valuable--"

"Yes, it's valuable all right. Come on, now! Quit your fooling and
get down to business. I'm going to have that paper."

"Do you know, Mr. Tausig," I said impulsively, "if I were you, and
anybody had stolen a valuable paper from me, I'd have him arrested. I
would. I should not care a rap what the public exposure did to his
reputation, so long--so long," I grinned right up at him, "so long as
it didn't hurt me, myself, in the eyes of the law."

Mad? Oh, he was hopping! A German swear-word burst from him. I don't
know what it meant, but I can imagine.

"Look here, I give you one more chance," he squeaked; "if you don't--"

"What'll you do?"

I was sure I had him. I was sure, from the very whisper in which he
had spoken, that the last thing in the world he wanted was to have that
agreement made public by my arrest. But I tripped up on one thing. I
didn't know there was a middle way for a man with money.

His manner changed.

"Nance Olden," he said aloud now, "I charge you with stealing a
valuable private paper of mine from my desk. Here, Sergeant!"

I hadn't particularly noticed the Sergeant standing at the other door
with his back to us. But from the way he came at Tausig's call I knew
he'd had a private talk with him, and I knew he'd found the middle way.

"This girl's taken a paper of mine. I want her searched," Tausig cried.

"Do you mean," I said, "that you'll sign