and I've a pretty shrewd idea of the
terms of it. But enough of this--let me come to the point. I intend
buying the property, and I shall refuse to renew your father's lease,
unless he agrees to give me what I want!"

"Of course a preposterous price?"

"No, you--only you!"

"Me!"

"Yes! I've never seen a girl I like more. I've limitless wealth and
I'll give you everything you want--a steam yacht, motors, diamonds,
anything, everything, and all I ask in return is that you should
consent to be engaged to me on trial--say for fifteen months--just to
see how we get on! What pretty hands you have."

And before Gladys could draw them away, he had caught hold of them in
an iron grasp, and, turning them over, cast admiring glances at the
slim, white fingers with the long, almond-shaped and carefully
manicured nails.

"I reckon," he said, "I shall never find any one prettier all through.
What do you say?"

"Your proposition is impossible--monstrous! I detest you," Gladys
retorted, her cheeks white with anger. "Leave go my hands at once, and
never let me see you again!"

"I can't promise not to see you again," Hamar said, "but I'll let go
your hands now, for I'm no more a lover of scenes than you. I
anticipated a little fuss at first--it's the way all you women
have--you are so modest, you don't like to appear too eager to snap up
a good offer. You'll close with it right enough in the end. I'll call
again in a few days. By that time you may have changed your mind."
And, before she could prevent him, he had again seized her hand and
was kissing it over and over again.

With an ejaculation of the utmost indignation, she sprang away from
him, and with all the dignity she could assume, walked to the house.
What became of him she did not know. Some few seconds later she told
the gardener to see him safely off the premises, but he was nowhere to
be found.

A week later, Hamar turned up again at the Cottage, and, despite the
vigilance of Gladys and the servants, caught John Martin alone.

When the latter, at last, came to the end of what had, at first,
seemed an inexhaustible stock of invectives, Hamar stated his
proposals with mathematical exactitude.

"I don't believe for one moment my landlord would be such a blackguard
as to play into your hands," John Martin spluttered.

"Oh, yes, he would!" Hamar replied. "An Englishman will do anything
for money, and I am prepared to offer him just twice as much as any
one else