hey really treat me very decently."

"They?" repeated Sproatly with resentment in his face. "If you mean
Hamilton, it seems to me that he treats you with an excess of decency
that there's no occasion for."

Winifred laughed. "In any case, he doesn't drive me out here every two
or three weeks, though"--she glanced at her companion provokingly--"he
once or twice suggested that he would like to."

"I suppose you pointed out his presumption?"

"No," confessed Winifred with an air of reflection, "I didn't go quite
so far as that. After all, the man is my employer; I had to handle him
tactfully."

"He won't be your employer a week after the implement people open their
new depot," returned Sproatly resolutely. "But we're getting away from
the subject. Have you any more reasons for concerning yourself about
what Gregory does with Wyllard's property?"

"I've one; I suppose you don't know who he has left at least a part of
it to?"

Sproatly started as an idea crept into his mind.

"I wonder if you're right," he said.

"I feel reasonably sure of it." Winifred smiled. "In fact, that's partly
why I don't want Gregory to throw any more of Wyllard's money away. You
have done all I expect from you."

"Then Hastings is to go on with the thing?"

"Hastings," Winifred assured him, "will fail--just as you would. This is
a matter which requires to be handled delicately--and effectively."

"Then who is going to undertake it?"

Winifred laughed. "Oh," she answered, "a woman, naturally. I'm going
back by and by to have a word or two with Mrs. Hastings."

CHAPTER XXVI

THE RESCUE

Winifred's suspicions soon were proved correct, for Hastings, who drove
over to the Range a day or two after her visit, returned home rather
disturbed in temper after what he described as a very unsatisfactory
interview with Hawtrey.

"I couldn't make the man hear reason," he informed Mrs. Hastings. "In
fact, he practically told me that the matter was no concern of mine. I
assured him that it concerned me directly as one of the executors of
Harry's will, and I'm afraid I afterwards indulged in a few personalities.
I expect that blamed mortgage-broker has got a very strong hold on him."

Mrs. Hastings looked thoughtful. "You have never told me anything about
the will."

"If I haven't, it wasn't for want of prompting," returned Hastings
dryly. "The will was sealed, and handed to me by Harry on the express
understanding that it was not to