.

"Well, I don't see what Mr. Hogg has to do with it," he spoke up.

"Why, Auntie insists upon my marrying him."

Helen blurted this out involuntarily

"That's dreadful!" exclaimed Whitney Barnes, and Helen rewarded him
with a smile of gratitude.

CHAPTER XV.

HEROISM, LOVE AND SOMETHING ELSE.

The embarrassment of both the girls had begun to wear off. The two
strange young men, notwithstanding the unaccounted-for absence of the
object of Helen's quest, began to appear less strange. Both possessed
potent attractions and undeniable magnetism.

The shy and shrinking Sadie was sure she liked that tall and slender
young man with the easy drawl and bright, humorous eyes immensely. The
boldness of his glances made her heart beat pleasantly. To her he
seemed to possess the master will and wit of the pair, and she felt
she could repose perfect confidence in him.

For her part Helen was uncertain just how to sense the situation. One
side of her will urged her to leave a message for her betrothed and
hurry away. Another strain of consciousness held her fast.

Travers Gladwin's psychic waves that had so utterly failed in the
grill room of the Ritz may or may not have had something to do with
this. He felt inspired with a desire to prolong the interview
indefinitely. He could not recall ever having been so attracted by the
charming personality of any girl as he was by this distressed maiden
who was so eager to see her Travers Gladwin.

He was flattered, even by the compliment of having the same name as
the unknown. As a further expression of sympathy with Helen in the
matter of Mr. Hogg he said earnestly:

"Do you mean to tell me that your aunt insists upon you marrying
this--hog?"

"Yes," replied Helen, passionately. "And he's awful, and I hate him,
and I won't--I just won't."

"I think you're absolutely right," Gladwin agreed with her.

"Oh, you do?" cried the delighted Helen. Then, turning triumphantly
upon her cousin she exclaimed:

"There!"

But Sadie's one idea did not include Mr. Hogg. She considered the
elopement as a separate matter in which Mr. Hogg was in no way
involved, wherefore she said:

"But you've only known Mr. Gladwin two weeks."

"I know," retorted Helen, "but I've loved him for four years."

"You've loved Travers Gladwin four years," said that young man in a
voice hollow with wonder.

"And only known him two weeks," cut in Whitney Barnes. "By Jove, he
must be one of those