ssion."

"I happen to know he is n't."

"You--know--he is n't! How do you know? Tell me what he is then. I
don't believe I 'll ever have any more curiosity about anything; I 've
used it all on him."

"He 's a naval officer and a very promising one, I believe. He is John
Armitage and his father is United States Senator Armitage from
Kentucky--they 're really a very fine family--one of the best in the
State."

"How did--? oh, of course, you were a Kentuckian. You don't mean to say
you know him!"

"I know all his family very well. Why, I 've known Jack Armitage all my
life," she raised her eyebrows. "But, Anne, promise you won't let on."

The full significance of the information imparted by her friend gradually
rose to supremacy in Anne's mind. Her eyes turned slowly to Sara's face.

"Well, of all idiots I am the worst! Why, I even placed him at Annapolis
and then let him turn me off! And mother, too! That's a good one on
her. Well! What's his play? I confess I am stumped."

"His play?" Sara regarded her with a significant smile. "I wonder!"

Anne gazed at her a moment and then buried her face in her hands with a
mock groan.

"Saints and ministers of grace, defend us!" she exclaimed.

Then girl-like, they clung to each other and laughed and laughed.

"Aren't you flattered?" asked Sara at length.

"Flattered? Oh, you mean about--" she grimaced. "Sara! It's perfectly
ridiculous! And it is n't true. The very idea! The audacity! Don't
tell me, Sara; there 's something else." But Sara caught the tentative
note.

"Oh, naturally," she interposed, "you are far from being sufficiently
attractive to draw an ardent young man into a romantic situation,
especially--as you told me--after you had written him a note virtually
inviting him to try his luck."

"Sara, you are beastly!"

"Forgive me, dear, but why not face facts?"

"Well!" Anne smiled resignedly. "Mother must n't know."

"Not until the play is over," said Sara.

Anne gazed moodily at her friend.

"It soon will be, I fear," she said.

As for the unsuspecting Armitage, he burned the road, smiling to think
that underground wires were working for him, as well as the Prince. He
had no fear that if Koltsoff had the control with him--which Armitage did
not for a moment believe--the vigilance of the express companies and of
the postal authorities would be found wanting. Koltsoff spent half an
hour in the telegraph office and then