ng to see Helen. And Barbara," stopping on his way to the door,
"don't be a fool."

Barbara rubbed the tiny mole under the lobe of her ear, a trick she had
when absent-minded or in deep thought. "Helen," she announced, unaware
that she spoke loud, "shall have a physician, but it won't be--why,
Grimes," awakening to the servant's noiseless return. "You can take the
breakfast dishes. Did Miss Helen eat anything?"

"Not very much, miss." Grimes shook a troubled head. "But she done
better than at dinner last night, so she's picking up, and don't you be
worried over her," with emphasis, as he sidled nearer. "Tell me, miss,
is the colonel courtin' Mrs. Brewster?"

"Ask him," she suggested and smiled at the consternation which spread
over the butler's face.

"Me, miss!" he exclaimed in horror. "It would be as much as my place
is worth; the colonel's that quick-tempered. Why, miss, just because I
tidied up his desk and put his papers to rights he flew into a terrible
passion."

"When was that?"

"Early this morning, miss; and he so upset Thomas, miss, that he gave
notice."

"Oh, that's too bad." Barbara liked the second man. "Perhaps father will
reconsider and persuade him to stay."

The butler looked unconvinced. "It was about the police dogs," he
confided to her. "Thomas told him that Miss Helen wanted them brought
back, and the colonel swore at him--'twas more than Thomas could stand
and he ups and goes." Barbara halted half way to the door. "Did Thomas
get the dogs?"

"You wait and see, miss." Grimes was guilty of a most undignified wink.
"Thomas ain't forgiven himself for not being here Monday night, miss;
though it wouldn't a done him any good; he wouldn't a heard Mr. Turnbull
climbing in or his arrest, away upstairs in the servants' quarters."

"Grimes," Barbara retracted her footsteps and placed her lips very close
to the old servant's ear.

"When I came in on Tuesday morning I found the door to the attic
stairway standing partly open...

"Did you now, miss?" The two regarded each other warily. "And what hour
may that have been?"

The butler cocked his ear for her answer--'he was sometimes a little
hard of hearing; but he waited in vain, Barbara had disappeared inside
the library.

Colonel McIntyre had not gone at once to see his daughter Helen, as
Barbara had supposed from his remark, instead he went down the staircase
and into the reception room on the ground floor. It was generally used
as a smoki