in front of Imogene's door, it seemed as if he had never seen the town
look more lovely or less like the abode of violence and crime. All was
so quiet, especially in the house opposite him, he was fast becoming
convinced that further precautions were needless, and that Imogene had
no intention of stirring abroad again, when the window where her light
burned suddenly became dark, and he perceived the street door cautiously
open, and her tall, vailed figure emerge and pass rapidly up the street.
Merely stopping to give the signal to Hickory, he hastened after her
with rapid but cautious steps.

She went like one bound on no uncertain errand. Though many of the walks
were heavily shaded, and the light of the lamps was not brilliant, she
speeded on from corner to corner, threading the business streets with
rapidity, and emerging upon the large and handsome avenue that led up
toward the eastern district of the town before Hickory could overtake
Byrd, and find sufficient breath to ask:

"Where is she bound for? Who lives up this way?"

"I don't know," answered Byrd, lowering his voice in the fear of
startling her into a knowledge of their presence. "It may be she is
going to Miss Tremaine's; the High School is somewhere in this
direction."

But even as they spoke, the gliding figure before them turned into
another street, and before they knew it, they were on the car-track
leading out to Somerset Park.

"Ha! I know now," whispered Hickory. "It is Orcutt she is after." And
pressing the arm of Byrd in his enthusiasm, he speeded after her with
renewed zeal.

Byrd, seeing no reason to dispute a fact that was every moment becoming
more evident, hurried forward also, and after a long and breathless
walk--for she seemed to be urged onward by flying feet--they found
themselves within sight of the grand old trees that guarded the entrance
to the lawyer's somewhat spacious grounds.

"What are we going to do now?" asked Byrd, stopping, as they heard the
gate click behind her.

"Wait and watch," said Hickory. "She has not led us this wild-goose
chase for nothing." And leaping the hedge, he began creeping up toward
the house, leaving his companion to follow or not, as he saw fit.

Meantime Imogene had passed up the walk and paused before the front
door. But a single look at it seemed to satisfy her, for, moving
hurriedly away, she flitted around the corner of the house and stopped
just before the long windows whose brightly ill