seen neither the
girls nor Uncle Starkweather himself.

"He doesn't know what you are going to do with him. He brought the money
he received from your father to my office; but, of course, I would not
accept it. You've got the whip hand, Helen----"

"But I do not propose to crack the whip, Dud," declared the Western girl,
quickly.

"You're a good chap, Snuggy!" exclaimed Dud, warmly, and Helen smiled and
forgave him for using the intimate nickname.

But Helen went across town the very next day and called upon her uncle.
This time she mounted the broad stone steps, instead of descending to the
basement door.

Gregson opened the door and, by his manner, showed that even with the
servants the girl from Sunset Ranch was upon a different footing in her
uncle's house. Mr. Starkweather was in his den and Helen was ushered into
the room without crossing the path of any other member of the family.

"Helen!" he ejaculated, when he saw her, and to tell the truth the girl
was shocked by his changed appearance. Mr. Starkweather was quite broken
down. The cloud of scandal that seemed to be menacing him had worn his
pomposity to a thread, and his dignified "Ahem!" had quite disappeared.

Indeed, to see this once proud and selfish man fairly groveling before the
daughter of the man he had helped injure in the old times, was not a
pleasant sight. Helen cut the interview as short as she could.

She managed to assure Uncle Starkweather that he need have no
apprehension. That he had known all the time Grimes was guilty, and that
he had benefited from that knowledge, was the sum and substance of Willets
Starkweather's connection with the old crime. At that time he had been, as
Dud Stone learned, in serious financial difficulties. He used the money
received from Grimes's ill-gotten gains, to put himself on his feet.

Then had come the death of old Cornelius Starkweather and the legacy.
After that, when Prince Morrell sent Starkweather the money he was
supposed to have lost in the bankruptcy of Grimes & Morrell, Starkweather
did not dare refuse it. He feared always that it would be discovered he
had known who was really guilty of the embezzlement.

Flossie met Helen in the hall and hugged her. "Don't you go away mad at
me, Helen," she cried. "I know we all treated you mean; but--but I guess I
wouldn't act that way again, to any girl, no matter what Belle does."

"I do not believe you would, Floss," agreed Helen, kissing her warmly.