. "Fact is, I don't
quite like to leave you anyhow. We'll take Leigh's study. I don't think
we shall disturb you at all."

"I'm sure you won't--and before you go, you'll let us know what you
have decided to do."

"We shall not be through before morning. You'll be asleep by then," he
made answer.

"No, I couldn't sleep till I know all about it."

"Nor I," agreed Laska. "I want to know all about everything."

"My dear young lady, you are to take the sleeping-powders and get a
good rest," the doctor demurred. "All about everything is too large an
order for your good just now."

Virginia nodded in a businesslike way. "Yes, you're to go to sleep,
Laska, and when you waken I'll tell you all about it."

"That would be better," smiled Yesler, and Virginia thought it
significant that her friend made no further protest.

Gray streaks began to show in the sky before Yesler tapped on the door
of Virginia's room. She had discarded the rather elaborate evening gown
he had last seen her in, and was wearing some soft fabric which hung
from the shoulders in straight lines, and defined the figure while
lending the effect of a loose and flowing drapery.

"How is your patient?" he asked.

"She has dropped into a good sleep," the girl whispered. "I am sure we
don't need to worry about her at all."

"Nevertheless, it's a luxury I'm going to permit myself for a day or
two," he smiled. "I don't have my life saved by a young lady very
often."

"I'm sure you will enjoy worrying about her," she laughed.

He got back at her promptly. "There's somebody down-stairs worrying
about you. He wants to know if there is anything he can do for you, and
suggests inviting himself for breakfast in order to make sure."

"Mr. Ridgway?"

"How did you guess it first crack? Mr. Ridgway it is."

She considered a moment. "Yes, tell him to stay. Molly will be back in
time to make breakfast, and I want to talk to him. Now tell me what you
did."

"We did Mr. Warner. At least I hope so," he chuckled.

"I'm so glad. And who is to be senator? Is it Waring?"

"No. It wouldn't have been possible to elect him even if we had wanted
to."

"And you didn't want to," she flashed.

"No, we didn't," he admitted frankly. "We couldn't afford to have it
generally understood that this was merely a partisan fight on the
Consolidated, and that we were pulling Waring's chestnuts out of the
fire for him."

He did not add, though he might have, that Ridgway was