deserted. To his
amazement when he glanced through the inner doorway he saw her for the
second time on one knee in front of the keyhole of Ferguson's private
office.

She came towards him swiftly, closing the doors behind her as she had
done on the occasion of his first visit. She was very angry; that much
was apparent.

"I'll admit, Miss Williams, that it is often extremely difficult to
break off a bad habit----"

"Mr. Ferguson is busy," she snapped.

"I would judge as much," said Kendrick dryly. "He is expecting me. If
you will just hand him my card please,--Thank you."

He was surprised at the look of disdain with which she took his card.
Surely this girl whom he had caught twice in the act of eavesdropping
upon her employer ought to be grateful for his silence, his toleration
of such an utter misdemeanor! Instead, her whole attitude was one of
dislike. She made no attempt to conceal it. It might do her good to
get a sharp rebuke from Ferguson, and he was of two minds whether or
not to speak to the lawyer about her. Then he remembered that she was
only substituting and that dismissal would not mean much to her. There
was the chance that it was just her woman's curiosity to know what was
going on. Women were often like that, he had heard.

"Mr. Ferguson will see you now. Tell him anything you like." She eyed
him coolly.

Phil gave her a cheerful smile as he passed on into the private office.
Podmore had just gone.

"I had no trouble in getting a line on him for you, Phil. He came in
right after you 'phoned and has been here ever since. Now, what the
devil's the meaning of all this? What are you up to?"

"Tell me just what he said to you, Blatch," said Kendrick, refusing a
cigar and filling his pipe.

"He said he gave you the envelope to mail and that you hid it for him
in a hollow stump near the water-tank at Thorlakson Siding when Wade
came after it. He said that Wade and Cranston gave both of you the
third degree and that you lit into Wade and gave him one awful calling
down for not accepting your word that you hadn't seen any envelope and
knew nothing about it. He said it made Wade so mad that he not only
fired Podmore but told you also that you couldn't work for the C.L.S.
another minute, so it was no use you rejoining this survey party you
were with. It's a swell kettle of fish you've got into, Phil. What's
your uncle going to say to all this?"

"Nothing. Unless you tell him he