hat is because he does not want
to live. Do you understand why this should be?"

"Yes; I think I understand perfectly."

"Will you come back to Port Agnew and help save him? We all think you
can do it, Miss Brent. The doctors say you are the only one that can
save him." There was a moment of hesitation. "His family desires this,
then?" "Would I telephone across the continent if we did not?"

"I'll come, Mrs. McKaye--for his sake and yours. I suppose you
understand why I left Port Agnew. If not, I will tell you. It was for
his sake and that of his family."

"Thank you. I am aware of that, Miss Brent. Ah--of course you will be
amply reimbursed for your time and trouble, Miss Brent. When he is
well--when all danger of a relapse has passed--I think you realize,
Miss Brent, all of the impossible aspects of this unfortunate affair
which render it necessary to reduce matters strictly to a business
basis."

"Quite, dear Mrs. McKaye. I shall return to Port Agnew--on
business--starting to-morrow morning. If I arrive in time, I shall do
my best to save your son, although to do so I shall probably have to
promise not to leave him again. Of course, I realize that you do not
expect me to keep that promise."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, my dear girl, that I cannot say 'No' to that. But
then, since you realized, in the first place, how impossible"

"Good-night. I must pack my trunk."

"Just a minute, my girl," Andrew Daney interrupted. "Daney speaking.
When you get to Chicago, call up the C.M. St. P. station. I'll have a
special train waiting there for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Daney. I'm sorry you cannot charter an airplane for me
from New York to Chicago. Good-night, and tell Donald for me whatever
you please."

"Send him a telegram," Daney pleaded. "Good-by." He turned to the
chief operator and looked her squarely in the eyes. "The Laird likes
discreet young women," he announced meaningly, "and rewards
discretion. If you're not the highest paid chief operator in the state
of Washington from this on, I'm a mighty poor guesser."

The girl smiled at him, and suddenly, for the first time in all his
humdrum existence, Romance gripped Mr. Daney. He was riotously
happy--and courageous! He thrust a finger under the girl's chin and
tilted it in a most familiar manner, at the same time pinching it with
his thumb.

"Young woman," he cautioned her, "don't you ever be prim and smug! And
don't you ever marry any man until you're perfectly wil