t; but I gave her
sufficient hints, so she can form a fairly correct notion of my
destination."

"All right, Pattykins, I'll look after you, and no one shall learn from
me where you are,--least of all, that terrible ogre, Bill Farnsworth!"

Patty smiled, and the two friends went downstairs. Jim Kenerley was
beaming with welcomes, and declared that he, too, would keep the secret
of Patty's presence under his roof, even at the point of the bayonet.

But, alas, for good intentions!

That afternoon, Kenerley sought his wife, consternation in every line
of his good-looking countenance.

"Where's Patty?" he asked, abruptly.

"I sent her off for a nap. She's all tired out. Why?"

"Well, Farnsworth is on his way up here."

"What? Why did you let him come?"

"Couldn't help it. You see it was this way. The clerk, or somebody at
his hotel telephoned, and said that Mr. Farnsworth had suddenly decided
to run up here, and that he hadn't time to telephone and then get his
train. So he instructed the clerk to get me and tell me Bill was on
the way. He'll be here a little after seven. What shall we do?"

"Mercy! I don't know. Let me think. Patty is awfully angry with him
about something, and I've promised her not to let him know where she
is."

"Lovers' quarrel?"

"I don't know. I haven't had a real talk with Patty yet, she's so
fagged out. I want her to rest up. But she says she's bothered about
Philip Van Reypen."

"Then depend upon it, it's somebody else! Farnsworth, probably."

"She could do a lot worse than to marry Bill."

"Indeed she could! But, all the same, if Patty doesn't want him here,
he mustn't come."

"That's all very well, but how will you prevent it?"

"I don't know. Meet him with a shotgun?"

"Now, be serious, Jim. We must protect Patty at any cost. Can't we
telegraph him on the train?"

"Not a chance. Do you think he knows she's here?"

"He can't know it. He may suspect it. Well, he'll have to come, and
he'll have to stay over night; we can't send him packing, with no
decent excuse."

"Tell him Cook has the smallpox."

"Don't be silly! I can manage it, I think. Yes, with your help, it
can be done."

"My dear Adele, I offer my help in its entirety, and then some."

"I'll need all that--maybe more. It's no easy job, but I'll try it,
rather than have Patty disturbed."

"Might a mere man ask the nature of your plans?"

Adele Kenerley looked affectionately at her