one
when you want me?"

Taking leave of her new henchman, Willa crossed the Park on foot and
swung down the Avenue, so intent upon her own thoughts that she all but
collided with Vernon, descending the steps of his club. He appeared
troubled and morose, but his brow cleared at sight of her.

"Hello! May I walk a bit of the way with you?" He fell into step
beside her. "I say, you aren't angry with me about last night, are
you?"

"Indeed no, Vernon. Why should I be? You did nothing."

"That's just why." He reddened. "Perhaps you think I might have taken
your part after what a bully pal you proved yourself the night you
showed Cal Shirley up, and I did feel like telling the whole bunch to
stop hectoring you, the mater included, only--well, we can't do just
what we'd like, always!"

"There wasn't anything you could have said, really," she assured him.
"I was the only one involved and I had to see it through."

"At least, I want you to believe I never mentioned any house on the
Parkway, or saw you there. Angie made a mistake. Someone did say
something about it once, but I didn't repeat it." He gave her a
curious sidewise glance, but her face was inscrutable.

"I believe you, of course, but it doesn't matter anyway, Vernon. I'm
sorry everyone was so worried about my absence last evening, but it was
unavoidable. Don't let's discuss it any more."

"All right," he sighed. "I only wish, though, that I'd learned to
stand up to the family the way you can. You're so different to the
girls up here, but I suppose that is the result of the wonderful, free
kind of a life you led in Mexico. You must have had some great
experiences down there."

It was Willa's turn to glance curiously at him, for Vernon's tone was
oddly constrained and hesitant as if he were endeavoring, awkwardly
enough, to lead up to some point in his own mind.

"Yes," she assented quietly, and waited.

"Starr Wiley was disappointed last night at not seeing you," he
pursued. "I never knew you had met him down there."

"You never asked." Her tone was serenely noncommittal.

"He was telling us of some of the queer characters he has run across in
that part of the country." Vernon paused, and then plunged in
desperately. "He said you knew one old woman who was a wonder; a
half-caste hoodoo-worker who brewed magic potions in a big pot, and
knew all the legends of the countryside. 'Tia--' something, her name
is. Do you know what has beco