irred up all this scandal for him just
as he was getting ready to amount to something in the world, with a wife
that could help him! You get away from here as quickly as you can. You
hear me? If his career is spoiled you've done it. Don't stay around here
and disgrace him any more. It's bad enough, as it is, for him and Miss
Presson!"

She stared at him, stricken and puzzled. Then she left him.

"I don't need any further escort," she informed him, turning after she
had gone a few steps. It was Dennis Kavanagh's girl speaking now. "I
have been escorted by the Thorntons quite enough during the past ten
minutes. I tell you again, I believe you lie. But I propose to
understand something more about this--and I'll not disgrace you nor your
grandson!"

"Go ask some questions!" he called after her. He felt sure that gossip
would confirm him. But to make sure that Harlan did not follow her and
find her and discredit gossip he turned back down the corridor purposing
to keep that belligerent young man under watch and ward for a time.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE WAY OF A MAID WITH A MAID

The Duke found his grandson in an anteroom where the half dozen excited,
wondering men had conveyed him.

The old man and the young man stood for a few moments and gazed at each
other. Harlan was breathless, disheveled, his knuckles were bleeding.

"Where is she?"

The Duke came close to him. "She went away. Now keep your mouth closed.
You talk about disgracing a girl," he muttered in his grandson's ear;
"if you haven't disgraced her and yourself and all of us here to-day it
isn't because you haven't done your best! God only knows why I didn't
leave you in the woods where you belong!"

"I'm going out to find her," insisted his grandson. "This is my own
business from now on."

"You try to leave this room in the shape you're in and I'll have you
committed to the insane asylum across the river. The girl has more sense
than you've got."

While he was speaking Presson came in. He pulled the House bill from his
pocket.

"Thornton," he said, walking up to Harlan, "I didn't think there could
be anything more important just now than the damnable performance you've
just been through and the part my family plays in it. But here's
something I propose to take while it's hot!" He shook the document at
the young man. Harlan swept it out of his grasp before he could prevent,
and buttoned it in his breast-pocket.

"That is mine," he stated, not f