magnetism of her presence more and more resistless.

He returned with renewed energy and enthusiasm to the practice of law.
The wide fame he had achieved as district attorney brought him the best
clients and from them he was able to choose only the cases which
involved principles worth fighting for.

His spare time he gave in a loving effort to restore the doctor to his
old cheerful frame of mind. He had returned Bivens's money in spite of
his protest and made his old friend a loan sufficient for his needs,
taking his personal note for security.

He had no difficulty in learning the progress of Bivens in his search
of Europe for health.

A troop of reporters followed him daily. His doings were chronicled
with more minute details than the movements of kings. If he sneezed, it
was cabled to America. In every capital of the Old World he was
received with what amounted to royal honours. His opinions were eagerly
sought by reigning sovereigns. The daily cabled reports to New York
always gave his condition as better.

But Stuart knew the truth. He received two or three letters a week from
Nan. She had told him in full detail the little man's suffering, and at
last of his homesickness, fast developing into a mania.

He was not surprised at the end of three months to hear her familiar
voice over his telephone.

"Yes, we've returned, Jim--sailed incognito to escape the reporters. He
is very feeble. We haven't been in the house three hours, but he has
asked for you a dozen times. Can you come up at once?"

Stuart hesitated and she went on rapidly.

"Please come without delay. I promised him not to leave the 'phone
until I got you. You will come?"

"Yes, I'll come," he answered slowly.

He hung up the receiver with a groan.

"It's Fate!" he said bitterly. "Every time I feel that I'm fighting my
way to a place of safety, the devil bobs up serenely with an excuse so
perfect it can't be denied. It won't do; I'll tear my tongue out sooner
than speak."

He repeated these resolutions over and over before reaching the Bivens
mansion only to find that he had lost all sense of danger in the warmth
and tenderness of Nan's greeting. He not only forgot his fears but
reproached himself for his low estimate of her character in supposing
that she would allow herself or permit him to cross the line of danger.
Her solicitude for Bivens seemed deep and genuine.

"For Heaven's sake, Jim," she begged, "try to cheer him up. He has
g