ossession of his will.

He glowered at the letter as it lay before him in its envelope,
sealed, stamped and addressed to "Miss Mildred Annister," and
muttered, "I'll not let it go! I'll tear it up! I'll get the best of
him yet!"

At that moment his secretary appeared at his door and asked him
concerning the disposition of certain papers. She was putting
everything in order, she told him, so that her successor would have no
difficulty in beginning the work.

"Can't you wait a minute?" he snarled at her over his shoulder.

"Oh, dear!" thought Henrietta, shrinking back. "What's wrong now, I
wonder! Well, I'll be through in ten minutes, and nothing very
dreadful can happen in that time."

Brand rose, swearing angrily, and turned upon her. The affright and
consternation in her face maddened him the more.

"Well, what do you want?" he demanded roughly. She repeated what she
had said.

"You're not going to quit today?" he exclaimed, striding back and
forth, his heart raging against the letter on his desk and all that it
meant.

She reminded him that the time for which she had agreed to remain
expired that day. "Haven't you engaged any one else, Mr. Brand?" she
asked, quailing a little as she saw the violent anger that possessed
him.

"No! What time have I had to hunt up secretaries? I can't do without
you. You'll have to stay another week."

Henrietta's spirit rose. "I shall not stay another day, Mr. Brand!
I've given you ample notice, and I have secured another position. I go
to work there next week."

He wheeled and strode toward her, a menacing figure. "I tell you,
you'll have to stay another week! You'll get no more money from me
unless you do!" he shouted.

She saw that he was beside himself with a rage that, to her, was
inexplainable, and she retreated as he came onward until she stood
with her back against the wall and he threatened in front of her, his
face working with unrestrained passion. The thought flashed upon her
that perhaps he had gone suddenly insane.

"You've got to stay," Brand shouted again. "I'll not pay you unless
you do!"

He raised his clenched fist, as if he were about to strike her in the
face. She threw up her arm to ward off the blow and her thoughts flew
to the man upon whom they had dwelt so much these recent days, with
quick longing for his care and protection.

"Oh, Hugh! Hugh! If you were here!" she whispered.

Low as was the sound it reached the ears of him who stood in