mbers of the tiny
fire, and if he put his hands behind him it was because the passionate
impulse to break down all the barriers was twitching in every fibre of
him.

"Patricia, girl, I wonder if you know what you have done to me? I drove
out here this evening utterly discouraged and disheartened; bitter and
angry, and ready to throw the whole thing up and go away. You've
changed all that--you, you know; just you. Oh, girl, girl! if I could
only have you beside me to give me my battle-word!"

She had her slender fingers locked over one knee and her eyes were
downcast.

"Now you are tempting me," she said slowly; "and--and it isn't fair. You
know my weakness and passion to help. You _mustn't_ tempt me, Evan."

What he would have said, with what eager pleadings he would have pressed
the advantage gained by his appeal for the larger help, is not to be
here set down. For at that moment the bamboo door curtains parted to
admit the small house-mistress.

"You two!" she scolded with light-hearted austerity. And then to Evan:
"Don't you know that we are keeping country hours here at Wartrace now?
The professor will be up and calling for the car at six o'clock, and
it's past midnight. Shame on you! Run away and get your beauty
sleep--both of you!"

XIII

THE LIEGEMAN

Evan Blount drove himself back to the capital in the swift roadster the
following morning, and there was no opportunity for further confidential
speech with Patricia before he left. But with the new day had arisen,
full-grown, the determination born in the moment of midnight
heart-warming and inspiration. To the best of his ability he would live
up to the high standard set for him by the woman he loved, not only
preaching the gospel of fair dealing, but doing his utmost to make it
effective.

With this high purpose singing its song of exaltation in his veins, he
drove on past the garage and made an early call at the office of the
traffic manager. Gantry was in the midst of his morning mail-opening,
but he pushed the desk-load of papers aside when the door swung inward
to admit the early visitor.

"Hello, old man! Come back to jar me some more about that telegram?" was
his greeting.

Blount shook his head. "No; if you've sent it, well and good. If you
haven't, you may pitch it into the waste-basket. I came to talk about
something else."

"Good, sound, sensible second thought!" Gantry commented, laughing. Then
he took out his pocket-book and