chard! She has her father's
disposition and she is true blue. She has given her promise and she will
keep it."

"When?" he demanded, curtly.

"I can't drive her."

"You said you could," he insisted. "You said a year ago when I advanced
that money that you knew just how to handle her."

"Are you going to keep twitting me about that money?"

"No; only I'm going to say that you haven't even told me about what
stocks you were protecting. You haven't said anything about repaying the
loan, Mother Kilgour. It has been a sort of general stand-off all around
for me. Hold on! I'm not making a holler! But I like to be taken in
right. I'm a Dodd, and I can't help playing to protect myself."

"It will come around all right, Richard. You don't know Kate as I do.
I understand her because I understood her father. She is rather
self-centered. But she is romantic underneath! But you know you're so
sort--sort of--well, just a business man--so matter-of-fact. A girl like
Kate needs to be stirred--her poise shaken--something like that!"

"Lochinvar business, eh?" he sneered.

"It must be something a little bit out of the ordinary to hurry her,
Richard. Go away, please. Let me think. I have an idea. I must spend a
little time on it."

"How much time?"

"Oh, I don't know just how much. Be patient."

"Mrs. Kilgour, if this thing cannot be put through by you I want you to
say so. I'm at the end of that patience you're appealing to. I won't be
fooled."

"You don't need to say that you're Colonel Dodd's nephew," she retorted.
"You have all the family traits."

"Well, there's one I haven't got: I loaned you five thousand dollars
without taking security--and that's the act of a good friend. Excuse me,
but I've got to speak of it--you need a little reminder. Four days from
now I'll have my marriage license from the city clerk. And when I have
it in my hands I shall come to you and shall expect that you'll do your
part."

"I will," she said.

"How? I want plain statements from now on."

"I will write you a letter to-morrow," she faltered. "I will give you
directions what to do. You'd better not come here till--till I have it
all arranged. You know what they say about absence!"

"I know what they say about a good many things. But I want something
besides say-so."

"I will tell you in my letter what to do. Then you follow instructions."

"I don't like to go into a thing blind. What is the plan?"

"Oh, if I tell you all about