gly. "Why, Uncle John, I was never away
from home alone in my life!"

"That's just the difficulty," he answered, perplexedly. "I have always
guarded my little flower from the world's cruel blasts, and you are
unused to the rough side of life."

"Still, I _could_ go on alone," persisted Daisy, bravely.

John Brooks laughed outright.

"You would get lost at the first corner, my girlie! Then I should have
to fly around to these newspaper offices, advertising for the recovery
of a little country Daisy which was either lost, strayed, or stolen.
No, no, little one!" he cried; "I would not trust you alone, a
stranger in a great city. A thousand ills might befall a young girl
with a face like yours."

"No one would know I was a stranger," replied Daisy, innocently. "I
should simply inquire the way to Madame Whitney's, and follow the
directions given me."

"There! didn't I tell you you could never find the way?" laughed John
until he was red in the face. "You suppose a city is like our country
lanes, eh?--where you tell a stranger: 'Follow that path until you
come to a sign-post, then that will tell you which road leads to the
village.' Ha! ha! ha! Why, my dear little Daisy, not one person in a
hundred whom you might meet ever heard of Madame Whitney! In cities
people don't know their very neighbors personally. They are sure to
find out if there's any scandal afloat about them--and that is all
they do know about them. You would have a lively time of it finding
Madame Whitney's without your old uncle John to pilot you through, I
can tell you."

Daisy's last hope was nipped in the bud. She had told herself, if she
were left alone, she could send a telegram back at once to Rex, and he
would join her, and she would not have to go to school--school, which
would separate a girl-bride from her handsome young husband, of whom
she was fast learning to be so fond.

"I could have sent you under the care of Mr. Stanwick," continued
John, thoughtfully. "He started for the city yesterday--but I did not
receive Madame Whitney's letter in time."

He did not notice, as he spoke, that the occupant in the seat directly
in front of them gave a perceptible start, drawing the broad slouch
hat he wore, which concealed his features so well, still further over
his face, while a cruel smile lingered for a moment about the handsome
mouth.

The stranger appeared deeply interested in the columns of the paper he
held before him; but in reality