us
out?"

"I don't know just when, but I suppose some time before I came of age.
It must have been between the time my aunt and I first went to see them
and my twenty-first birthday."

Clark made a rapid calculation.

"That was about the time father died and mother and we kids were tryin'
to live on nothin'. The money would have come in mighty handy then, let
me tell you!... Well, I suppose the lawyers know what they're about."

"I suppose they do," Adelle admitted reluctantly.

"I guess they don't want no more fuss with Clark's Field--after they've
got the thing all troweled out fine and smooth."

Adelle felt the cynicism in his voice, and keenly realized that it was
for her benefit that the "troweling" had been skillfully performed.

"That's gone into the discard!" the mason exclaimed finally, jumping up
and whistling softly.

He had that look in his blue eyes that Adelle recognized--the dangerous
glint. If she were not there or if she had been a man, he would have
found the shortest path to a drink, then taken another, and probably
many others. Very likely that was what he meant to do to-night, but at
least she would keep him for dinner and make him take her to the theater
for which she had already procured seats. Adelle did not censure him for
drinking, not as she had censured Archie, because she felt that he drank
in a different spirit, as an outlet for his realization of the sardonic
inadequacy of life, not as a mere sensual indulgence. If the keen spirit
of the man were satisfied with work, he would never drink at all, she
was sure.

"I think we can go over to the judge's now," she said, observing his
restlessness.

The two crossed the few blocks of city streets to the quiet corner on
the hill behind the court-house where Judge Orcutt lived. The east wind
had blown itself out the night before, and a beautiful May morning
filled even the city with the spirit of spring.

They found the old judge up and about his study, quite lively and full
of cordial welcome. He glanced keenly at the young mason, who lingered
awkwardly, scowling, beside the door.

"Come in, do!... It's too fine a day for indoors, isn't it? I've ordered
a carriage," he said almost at once, "and I want you both to take a
drive with me."

XLVIII

Since Adelle's visit Judge Orcutt had given some hours of profound
reflection to Clark's Field, for the second time in his life. Not to the
legal problem suggested by the young wo