onversation with Nan on the two occasions he had spoken with her,
and gave them to understand that his efforts to induce Donald to "be
sensible" had not been successful. Finally, his distress making him
more communicative, he related the cunning stratagem by which Daney
had made it possible for Donald to be separated from the source of
temptation.

Elizabeth was the first to comment on his extraordinary revelations
when he appeared to have finished his recital.

"The girl has a great deal more character than I supposed," she opined
in her soft, throaty contralto.

"She played the game in an absolutely ripping manner!" Jane declared
enthusiastically. "I had no idea she was possessed of so much force.
Really, I should love to be kind to her, if that were at all possible
now."

The Laird smiled but without animus.

"You had ample opportunity once, Janey," he reminded her. "But then,
of course, unlike Donald and myself, you had no opportunity for
realizing what a fine, wholesome lass she is." He lowered his gaze and
rolled a bread-crumb nervously between thumb and forefinger. "They
tell me at the hospital, Nellie," he began again presently, "that her
absence is killing our boy--that he'll die if she doesn't come back.
They've been whispering to Daney, and this afternoon he mentioned the
matter to me." Three pairs of eyes bent upon him; gazes of mingled
curiosity and distress. "Have you heard aught of such talk from the
doctors and nurses," he continued, addressing them collectively.

"I have," said Mrs. McKaye meekly, and the two girls nodded. "I think
it's all poppycock," Jane added.

"It isn't all poppycock, my dear," old Hector rebuked her. He rolled
another bread-crumb. "Andrew has her address," he resumed after a long
silence. "She's in New York. He asked me to wire her to come
immediately, or else permit him to wire her in my name. I refused. I
told Daney that our boy's case was in the hands of God Almighty."

"Oh, Hector!" Mrs. McKaye had spoken. There was gentle reproach and
protest in her voice, but she camouflaged it immediately by adding:
"You poor dear, to be called upon to make such a decision."

"His decision was absolutely right," Elizabeth declared. "I'd almost
prefer to see my brother decently dead than the laughing-stock of the
town, married to a woman that no respectable person would dare receive
in her home."

Old Hector looked up in time to see Jane nod approval of her sister's
sentiments,