been so far from it in my whole
life. I don't blame you for liking that minister."

"Then, you were not making fun?"

"No! I've had all the fun-making knocked out of me."

"Harold," she said, coming nearer, "I've made him hate me."

"Hate you? There isn't a man living who could do that. No one was ever
blessed with a more wonderful sister than I've been."

Elizabeth stared at her brother. Never had she heard him make such a
sentimental statement. He had turned from her, and was looking into the
street below. With a sharp swing he faced about.

"Come, tell me all you know about Phillips and the estate."

"I guess I really don't know very much more than I've told you. I know
the man is a half-brother of Uncle Josiah, and that he mortgaged the old
homestead to Father, and that he married some trader's daughter in
Australia, and that the trader died, leaving a large fortune. That's
all."

"Read those," said Harold, handing her some papers which he had brought
with him from his own desk. "And keep your nerve. There are more."

Elizabeth read the papers through. One was the original document of the
trader's will; the other was an Australian Government paper, exonerating
Mr. Adoniah Phillips. A postscript to the will stated that Mr. Phillips
had left Australia for America.

"I knew all that," said the girl as she returned the papers. "But they
do help to make matters clearer. I wasn't really certain he had come
over here. Have you found him?"

"No. I've never seen the man. What is more, not one penny of that vast
estate has yet come into the possession of Adoniah Phillips."

"Why, Harold! Do you mean to tell me that you know where this man is,
and that you have not looked him up? You say he has not received his
inheritance? What are you trying to tell me?"

"I know what I'm saying. Neither he nor his heir has received one
cent."

"And yet you know where they are?"

"I didn't say I knew of their whereabouts. But I will say that I know
where to find the heir, a son."

"You should go to him at once, then, and give him the opportunity to pay
off that mortgage on Uncle Josiah's home."

"Yes, I can do that. But it isn't so simple. Right there is where I've
struck the snag that has nearly driven me insane. How to do it----"

"How? A lawyer saying a thing like that? Just go to him and explain how
it all came about. If he is half a man he will do what is right without
any litigation. That is so very simple that I