not!" exclaimed Nancy.

"Don't want Grace for a relation--eh?"

"Dear, me! No!" cried Nancy, quite honestly.

This amused Jennie immensely; but soon she became more serious and the
two girls discussed the possibilities of the matter most of the way to
Cincinnati.

Mr. Montgomery did not come back to them. They were free, therefore, to
wonder what he would do when they reached the city.

"Perhaps he won't want you to see Mr. Gordon," suggested Jennie.

"But why?"

"Why is he so much interested in your affairs?"

"Do we know that he _is_?" demanded Nancy.

"Well! Scorch heard him----"

"If it really was the same man."

"Dear me!" said Jennie, wearily. "You are such a Doubting Tomaso----"

"I don't believe that's the feminine form of 'Thomas,'" chuckled Nancy.

"I don't care. It's as plain as the nose on your face----"

"Now, don't get too personal," begged Nancy, rubbing her nasal organ.
"Let's wait and see."

"But he may try to stop us, I tell you."

"Not likely. And why?"

"Oh! you've asked that before," cried Jennie, petulantly.

But all they could do was to wait and see. Mr. Montgomery might not
even notice them again, although he had intimated that he would speak to
them when they arrived at the station.

However, the two girls got off the train at their journey's end without
at once seeing the Senator. It was very early in the morning and the big
train-shed seemed all but deserted.

Nancy knew, however, that there was a cab stand just outside, and she
and her chum hurried out to it. Before they could find a cabman or speak
to the officer on duty in front of the building, Mr. Montgomery came
bustling up.

"Are you girls going immediately to Mr. Gordon's hotel?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," replied Nancy.

"Come right along with me, then. I have a taxi waiting."

Jennie held back a little; yet even she did not see how they could
refuse the offer. They followed him around the nearest corner, and so
did not see a figure that shot panting across the square to the entrance
of the station they had just left.

This was a youth whose hair, even in the early morning light, displayed
all the fiery hue of sunrise. It was Scorch--but for once Scorch was
just too late.

Nancy and Jennie were out of sight with the "man in gray" before the
boy reached the railway station in answer to Nancy's telegram.

Mr. Montgomery escorted the two girls to a cab standing in a dark
street. It seemed to have been waiti