u mustn't do that any more. We are no
longer--alone."

Garth glanced from one to the other, answering to the atmosphere of
dismay, which moment by moment became more unavoidable. Yet what could
there be here beyond loneliness, and, perhaps, threats from those
against whose cherished principles Alden's furnaces were busy night and
day? The loneliness, Garth acknowledged even then, could account for a
lot, but, he decided, a doctor was needed here as much as a detective.

At last Mrs. Alden resumed her control. She faced Garth apologetically.

"It's because I can't get him away," she said wistfully. "And he's sick.
Anybody can see that."

"A week or two more," Alden said, "until the works are running right.
Then we'll go back to New York. I've had trouble replacing
unsatisfactory workmen, and I can't make the government wait."

"New York!" the woman echoed.

"You've a doctor?" Garth asked.

"From the village," Alden answered. "I'm afraid he doesn't understand
me."

"Then," Garth said firmly, "I should let the works go to blazes until
I'd looked after myself."

Alden moved his hand vaguely.

"It's nothing--cold, maybe a touch of the gout. I sometimes suffer, and
my nerves are a little under. Too much involved here, Mr. Garth. You
couldn't afford to take chances with that."

Garth glanced at the room's luxurious furnishing.

"I couldn't," he answered captiously. "I'm not so sure about you."

It annoyed him that the lamp on the table failed to drive the shadows
from the corners.

Mrs. Alden approached him timidly.

"You'll forgive our welcome? You'll try to understand? You may have
noticed something about the fall in a remote place. It is very
depressing here. If only you could persuade him to leave. You see we've
no servants but old John. Shall I tell him to get you something--a
whiskey and soda?"

Garth shook his head.

"I never drink when I'm at work."

"But you are our guest," she said.

"Our guest," came in her husband's difficult voice.

In neither of their faces could Garth read the reproof their tones had
suggested. What point could there be in this abnormal masquerade?

He glanced at his watch. Mrs. Alden caught the gesture. She walked to a
cabinet and measured her husband's medicine.

"It's time," she said as she gave it to him, "that we all were in bed.
Shall I ring for John?"

"I'll ring," Garth answered, "a little later. I should be glad of a word
with your husband."

When Mrs. A