even you and I couldn't have stopped her; she'd
have gone with him, if it killed her!"

"Donald!" exclaimed Mr. Reed, fiercely, "you're talking nonsense!"

"So I am--sheer nonsense! The man hasn't an argument in favor of his
claim. But, Uncle, there is a great deal yet to be looked up. After Dot
has bidden us good-night and is fast asleep, may I not come down here to
the study again? Then you can show me the things you were speaking
of--the pictures, the letters, the chain, the little clothes, the locks
of hair, and everything--especially that list, you know. We'll go
carefully over every point. There _must_ be proof somewhere."

Donald was so radiant with a glad confidence that for an instant his
uncle looked upon him as one inspired. Then sober thoughts returned;
objections and arguments crowded into Mr. Reed's mind, but he had no
opportunity to utter them. Donald clasped his uncle's hand warmly and
was off, bounding down the moon-flecked carriage-way, the new dog
leaping before him. Both apparently were intent only on enjoying a brisk
walk toward the village, and on bringing Dorry home.

Dorry was very tired. Leaning upon Donald's arm as they walked
homeward--for they had declined Mr. McSwiver's services--she had but
little to say, and that little was all about the strange adventure at
Vanbogen's.

"Who in the world was that man, Don?" and then without waiting for a
reply, she continued: "Do you know, after I started for home, I really
suspected that he was that horrid person--the long, lank one, you
know--come back again. I'm glad it wasn't; but he may turn up yet, just
as he did before. Why doesn't he stay with his own people, and not
wander about like a lunatic? They ought to take care of him, anyway.
Ugh! I can't bear to think of that dreadful man. It makes me shiver!"

"Then why _do_ you think of him?" suggested Donald, with forced
cheerfulness. "Let us talk of something else."

"Very well. Let's talk--let's talk of--of--Oh, Don, I'm so tired and
sleepy! Suppose we don't talk at all!"

"All right," he assented. And so in cordial silence they stepped lightly
along in the listening night, to the great surprise of Watch, who at
first whined and capered by way of starting a conversation, and finally
contented himself with exploring every shadowed recess along the moonlit
road, running through every opening that offered, waking sleeping dogs
in their kennels, and in fact taking upon himself an astonishing am