have done for me, and would do for any of us who needed your support. We
solemnly promise," she went on, turning to her chums for corroboration,
"to regard your confidence as binding. Not one of us will forget the
hurt that has been dealt you. We shall do our best to make it easier for
you at the Hall by keeping clear of the Sans."

"Miss Remson, I feel positive that Doctor Matthews will realize, later,
what a serious mistake he has made. Sometimes the very finest men make
just such blunders because they are irritated by something else
entirely." Katherine spoke with deep conviction. "I acted as secretary
one summer to a naturalist who was of that type."

"There is one thing I intend to do." Lucy Warner spoke for the first
time since entering the office. She had listened with the gravity and
attention of a judge to all that had been said. "I shall make it a point
to see what President Matthews' secretary looks like. A secretary has a
good deal of opportunity to make trouble, if she chooses to make it. She
knows so much of her employer's private affairs. I've been a secretary
long enough to tell you that. She might have quietly told the Sans of
Miss Remson's letter to the president, asking for an interview."

"But, my dear child, I did not mention the object of my interview in my
note to President Matthews," declared the manager. "The secretary would
have nothing to tell these girls of any moment. She would naturally
attach no importance to such a letter."

"That is true." Lucy looked abashed for an instant. Her old shyness
seemed about to settle down on her. She cast it off and sat up very
straight, her green eyes gleaming with her initial purpose. "I believe I
will look her up, at any rate. She might be a friend of the Sans."

"Hardly," differed Muriel. "The Sans don't make a friend of a girl under
the million mark, Lucy."

"Unless it happens to suit their purpose," flatly contradicted Lucy,
with no intent to be rude. "They are the very persons who would pretend
friendship with a poor girl if they thought she would be useful to them.
There are girls who would feel highly flattered to be taken up by them.
I can't pass opinion upon this secretary until I have seen her. Perhaps
not until I have seen her a number of times."

"Luciferous Warniferous, the world's great private investigator."
Despite the seriousness of the occasion, Muriel could not refrain from
venturing this pleasantry.

"You needn't make fun of m