s a pause of a few moments' duration between them. He took the path
which was left open to him, fondly flattering himself that, while he
had stumbled inadvertently upon her romance, he had kept his own secret
safe.

"I--I have no right to intrude on your confidences, Miss Baxter,"
he said finally with an effort, "and I hope you will excuse me
for--for------"

"Oh! I have been sure for some days you knew it," interrupted the girl,
looking up, but not at him. "I have been neglecting my work, I fear, and
so you were quite right in speaking."

"No, your work is all right; it wasn't that exactly--but never mind, we
won't speak of this any more, for I see it embarrasses you."

"Thank you, Mr. Hardwick," said Jennie, again bending her eyes on the
desk before her.

The man saw the colour come and go in her cheeks, and thought he had
never beheld anyone so entrancing. He rose quickly, without making
further attempt at explanation, and left the room. One or two tear drops
stained the paper on which the girl was scribbling. She didn't like
giving pain to anyone, but could not hold herself to blame for what
had happened. She made up her mind to leave the _Daily Bugle_ and seek
employment elsewhere, but next day Mr. Hardwick showed no trace of
disappointment, and spoke to her with that curt imperiousness which had
heretofore been his custom.

"Miss Baxter," he said, "have you been reading the newspapers with any
degree of attention lately?"

"Yes, Mr. Hardwick."

"Have you been watching the drift of foreign politics?"

"Do you refer to that speech by the Prime Minister of Austria a week or
two ago?"

"Yes, that is what I have in my mind. As you know, then, it amounted
almost to a declaration of war against England--almost, but not quite.
It was a case of saying too much or of not saying enough; however, it
was not followed up, and the Premier has been as dumb as a graven image
ever since. England has many enemies in different parts of the world,
but I must confess that this speech by the Austrian Premier came as a
surprise. There must have been something hidden, which is not visible
from the outside. The Premier is too astute a man not to know exactly
what his words meant, and he was under no delusion as to the manner in
which England would take them. It is a case, then, of, 'When I was so
quickly done for, I wonder what I was begun for'--that is what all
Europe is asking."

"Is it not generally supposed, Mr. Hardwick