, Mr. Dudgeon, and from what I hear from Jim, my
barman, who's got his eye on the girl Mrs. Eustace has, they're pretty
good friends now, if not a bit more. I shouldn't be surprised, speaking
as between man and man, to see her back at the bank again before many
years are over, that is, if young Harding stays on here."

"Oh!" Dudgeon exclaimed. "Oh!"

"He's a fine young fellow, Mr. Dudgeon, and you ought to be interested
in him, for he was the first to look after you when you were knocked
over. But, here, won't you come in for a bit? You're in no-hurry."

"Yes, I am," Dudgeon replied. "I'm in town on business, and when I have
business to do, Mr. Soden, I do it. See?"

"It's a good plan."

"Yes, it's a very good plan. So I'll move along. Don't forget to have
that horse in sharp at four--I don't like waiting."

He limped away down the road and Soden turned back into his house.

"Old Dudgeon don't seem to have lost much of his sourness since he was
laid out," he said to his barman as he passed. "He's never been inside
this door since I've been here, and they say he hadn't been in for years
before then. Queer old chap he is. I wonder if he is mixed up with the
Rider?"

Limping along, Dudgeon made straight for Smart's cottage and knocked at
the door.

"I've come to see Mrs. Eustace," he said gruffly when Bessie answered.

"I'm sorry, sir, but Mrs. Eustace can't see anyone to-day. It's----"

"You go and tell her it's me, do you hear? Mr. Dudgeon of Taloona. I'll
come in and sit down till she's ready."

He pushed the door wide open and stepped inside.

"But Mrs. Eustace, sir----" Bessie began.

"Did I speak loud enough for you to hear, or didn't I?"

"Yes, sir, but----"

"Then go and tell Mrs. Eustace I'm here."

He was nearly at the door of the sitting-room when Mrs. Eustace, having
heard his voice, reached the passage.

"Ah," he exclaimed. "I want to talk to you. Just come in here, will
you?"

He held the door open for her and waited till she passed in. Then he
followed and closed the door.

"Just excuse me one minute," he said as he remained standing by the door
which he suddenly flung open again.

"I thought so," he cried, as he saw Bessie in the passage. "You clear
out of it. What I've got to say to Mrs. Eustace don't concern you, nor
Jim the barman. Do you hear?"

Bessie heard, and scurried.

"It's only fair to tell you," he said, turning to Mrs. Eustace, "that
what that girl sees and hears h