.

Some time since, when Miss Jenrys had expressed a wish to see the
Plaisance thoroughly, I had offered my services, promising to take
them safely through the strange places, behind the mysterious gates
and doors, where they had not ventured to penetrate alone. Now they
had an especial reason for wishing to make this excursion on the next
day, and--would I be at liberty?

I assured them that, in any case, I should doubtless pass a part of
the day, at least, in Midway; and if they would allow me to include
Lossing in our party there need be no change save that, instead of
wearing our guards' uniform, we would go as citizen sight-seers; and
instead of a party of two, there would be a quartet, and so it was
arranged.

Before leaving the house I had been told what I had surmised before
entering.

Monsieur Voisin had asked Miss Jenrys to drive with him, and when she
had declined, upon a plea of indisposition, he had renewed the
invitation for the following day, whereupon Miss Jenrys, in sheer
desperation, recalled that proposed visit to Midway, and, falling back
upon that, once more declined with thanks.

Certainly Monsieur Voisin was a persistent wooer!

He was much in my thoughts, after I had left the ladies, and quite
naturally followed me into dreamland. My head was heavy with pain, and
I went to my room at an early hour. It was long before the lotion did
its work and I fell asleep, and then I dreamed that Monsieur Voisin
had carried off June Jenrys, and had shut her into an old building in
care of the brunette, who locked her in a room at the top of the house
and then set it on fire below.

I saw the flames shoot forth; I saw June's face, pallid and desperate,
at the window, beyond the reach of the highest ladder; I saw Lossing
dash through the flames; and with a yell I awoke.

CHAPTER XXVII.

'I'D SWEAR TO THEM HANDS ANYWHERE.'

At one o'clock Lossing and I met the ladies at the rendezvous, as we
had grown to call the Nebraska House parlour, and the little arbour
beside the stream. Lossing, quite himself again, was handsome in his
well-fitting light summer suit, and happy in the prospect of an
afternoon with beautiful June Jenrys, as who would not be? and I was
humbly thankful that I was not, for that afternoon at least, obliged
to wear a skin-tight wig upon my sore and tender cranium.

That they might reserve their strength for the ins and outs of Midway,
we brought to the gate, for the use of