got
the thrashing of his life and his beauty is pretty well spoiled. Gad,
if I'd only been there to see it!"

Willa turned a shade more white.

"Who--did it?" Her voice was a mere whisper.

"Kearn Thode. He is pretty well cut up about the face himself, for of
course Starr didn't put up his fists like a man; he threw glassware."

"Oh, is he badly hurt?" Willa caught at her surprised informant's arm
in sudden dread. "Is Mr. Thode----"

"Hello! What's the tragic idea? Of course he's not; but you ought to
see Starr! The fellows say it was all over in about two seconds, but
it must have been great while it lasted!"

"Where--where did it occur?" she asked faintly.

"Right in the club, of all places in the world! The board of governors
got together this morning like ducks in a thunderstorm and held a
special meeting. Of course, they're both suspended until the board can
get hold of the facts, but it's a pretty general opinion that Starr
will be asked for his resignation. Nobody seems to know what the row
was about, or else they are all keeping mum, but Starr must have said
something rather average awful. The only name he called Thode, though,
as far as I can make out, was 'knight-errant'."

Willa turned away to hide a sudden trembling.

"That isn't so terrible, is it?" she stammered.

"Silly word to start anything! But you never can tell what's back of
it with Starr----"

"Excuse me, Miss. Note for you by messenger." Welsh stood in the
doorway.

Willa took the envelope from the salver the butler presented. The
superscription was in an unknown hand, but a swift intuition came to
her as she broke the seal.

"My dear Miss Murdaugh," she read silently.

"Will you believe me when I tell you that I am more than sorry I shall
not be able to come to you to-day? I was caught in an annoying but
superficial motor smash-up last night and the broken windshield has
made a bizarre spectacle of me, but I shall be my normal self again in
a few days. My sister, Mrs. Beekman, will call to-morrow and I shall
present my apologies in person at the earliest possible moment, if I
may.

"Very sincerely and regretfully,

"KEARN THODE."

Willa mused so long that Welsh finally asked, with a deferential cough:

"Any answer, Miss? The messenger is waiting to know."

"No.--Yes! Just a moment!"

She seated herself at the desk and wrote rapidly:

"My Dear Mr. Thode;

"I am deeply sorry to learn of your