yre drew up a chair and dropped into it.

"I called at your office, doctor," he said. "Went there at once on
learning the shocking news about poor Turnbull. Why in the world didn't
he announce who he was when my daughter had him arrested as a burglar?
He must have realized that prolonged excitement was bad for his weak
heart."

Mrs. Brewster, who had settled herself more comfortably in her corner of
the sofa on McIntyre's arrival, answered his remark.

"I only knew Jimmie superficially," she said, "but he had one
distinguishing trait patent to all, his inordinate fondness for
practical jokes. Probably the predicament he found himself in was highly
to his taste--until his heart failed."

Her voice, slightly raised, carried across the room and reached the ears
of a tall, slender girl who had stood hesitating on the threshold of
the dining worn door on beholding the group by the sofa. All hesitation
vanished, however, as the meaning of Mrs. Brewster's remark dawned on
her, and she walked over to the sofa.

"You are very unjust, Margaret," she stated, and at sound of her low
triante voice McIntyre whirled around and frowned slightly. "Jimmie was
thinking of the predicament of others, not of himself."

"What do you mean, Helen?" her father demanded.

"Why, how could Jimmie reveal his identity in court without involving
us?" she asked. "Good afternoon, doctor," recollecting her manners,
and her attention thus diverted, she missed the sudden questioning
look which Mrs. Brewster and her father exchanged. "No," she continued,
"Jimmie sacrificed himself for others."

"By becoming a burglar." McIntyre laughed shortly. "Don't talk arrant
nonsense, Helen."

The girl flushed at his tone, and Dr. Stone, an interested onlooker,
marveled at the fleeting flash of disdain which lighted her dark eyes.
Stone's interest grew. The McIntyre family had always been particularly
congenial, and the devotion of Colonel McIntyre (left a widower when
the twins were in short frocks) to his daughters had been commented
on frequently by their wide circle of friends in Washington and by
acquaintances made in their travels abroad.

Colonel McIntyre had married when quite a young man. Frugality and
industry and a brilliant mind had reaped their reward, and, wiser than
the majority of Americans, he retired early from business and devoted
himself to a life of leisure and the education of his daughters. Their
debut the previous autumn had been one