ll upon the face and throat of your valet."

"Yes?"

"Themar's throat, Excellency, bears peculiar scars."

"My dear Poynter! Themar's fall injured him severely about the face
and hands."

"I have not forgotten," insisted Philip grimly, "that Miss Westfall's
servant sunk his terrible fingers into the throat of the man whose
knife scar I bear. Whether or not his knife was meant for me, I can
not say. Nor have I sufficient proof openly to accuse him, but of this
much I am convinced. Themar's presence near the camp of Miss Westfall
is, in the face of your peculiar and secretive errand, ominously
significant."

The Baron sighed. There was frank hostility in Philip's eyes.

"Miss Westfall," added Philip hotly, "is the unsuspecting victim of a
peculiar network of mystery of which I feel you hold the key. Her camp
is constantly spied upon. Upon the night of the storm there were two
men lurking mysteriously in the forest near her camp fire. The knife
of one I was unfortunate enough to receive. The other," Philip's eyes
glinted oddly, "the other, Excellency," he finished slowly, "tried, I
firmly believe--to kill Miss Westfall."

"Impossible!" exclaimed the Baron, greatly shocked.

"If I might know the nature of your peculiar interest in Miss
Westfall," urged Philip bluntly, "I would have greater faith in your
apparent surprise."

The Baron reddened.

"That is quite impossible," he regretted formally. "Pray believe that
you have magnified its importance into exceedingly ludicrous
proportions. I fear I am obliged to dispense with your faith in my
integrity on the conditions you mention. Your resolution to leave
me--that is final?"

"Entirely so."

"I am sorry," said the Baron simply. And, meeting his chief's eyes,
Philip felt somewhat ashamed of one or two of his highly colored
suspicions and reddened uncomfortably.

"It is at least--comforting," observed the Baron quietly, "to feel that
whatever I may have said in confidence to you will be honorably
forgotten."

"Excellency," said Philip with spirit, "though I may not speak to Miss
Westfall of your interest or my suspicions, for reasons which need no
naming among gentlemen, it is but fair to warn you that henceforth I
shall regard myself as personally responsible for her safety."

"Gallantly spoken!" declared the older man, and watched his secretary,
as he bowed and withdrew, with more regret than he had seen fit to
express. Then, lying back in h