to my father about being satisfied with
your land. Why did you do it?"

He turned to her, intending to laugh the matter away, but as he met her
look, his eyes betrayed him.

"Why did you do it?" she whispered.

Payne looked away; and there was no need for him to speak.

"Oh, no!" she whispered. "Oh, no, no, no, no!"

There was a long silence. At last he heard her stifle a sob and looked
round. Annette was walking aft toward the cabin with slow, dragging
steps.

"My dear Annette!" cried Mrs. Livingstone and Senator Fairclothe
together as they saw her face, but she pushed past them and disappeared
in the cabin.

"Sir!" began the Senator indignantly. "May I ask you for an
explanation?"

"Lafe," interrupted his sister quietly, "will you go and see how
Annette is? I fear she stayed too long in the sun."

"I demand a father's right----"

"Yes, yes. Please do as I suggest. I am sure Annette is wanting you."

Alone, Mrs. Livingstone turned and faced Roger. Though she stood as
hard and motionless as adamant, the jet pendants in her ears trembled
and twinkled. And Payne, as he saw the hard lines about her mouth,
lines of fear, struggle, determination, felt sorry for her.

"What did you say to Annette?"

"Not one word," replied Roger.

"What did she say to you?"

"That is a secret."

"Why did she leave you--as she did?"

"That is another secret--and she's the only one who knows it."

For a moment they faced one another silently, then suddenly the woman
blazed out:

"How dare you interfere with my plans for her! Besides, let me inform
you, it is too late. She is engaged to Mr. Garman."

"She is to marry Garman?" asked Roger slowly.

"Yes."

"Then if it's settled--how can I interfere?"

"You can't. I will not permit it. And if you could, what could you
offer her? You've no money, no position, no influence. You're nobody.
She is Annette Fairclothe. She is the last hope of the family. I have
built our whole future upon her. There will be no interference with my
plans."

"She has a father----"

"Pooh! That doddering ass! Do you think it is he who has enabled us
to keep our position in Washington? And now he is going into his
dotage, and the big men won't dare to use him much longer. I'm not
blind, Mr. Payne; I can see as well as Garman. Let me speak seriously
to you: Your presence here spells danger to Annette--serious danger."

"Why?"

"Because, rather than risk failure for