ve him a curious
feeling to be talking of Sylvia's affairs in this way.

"Go on, Daniel,"--this marked a departure; she had never called him by
his first name before. "I'm closer to that girl than anybody, and I'm
glad to talk to you about her affairs."

"I suppose there will be something for her; she's not thrown on her own
resources?"

"I guess he didn't make any will, but what he left is Sylvia's. He had a
brother in Los Angeles, who died ten years ago. He was a rich man, and
left a big fortune to his children. If there's no will there'll have to
be an administrator. Sylvia's of age and she won't need a guardian."

Dan nodded. He knew Mrs. Owen well enough by this time to understand
that she usually perfected her plans before speaking, and that she
doubtless had decided exactly how Andrew Kelton's estate should be
administered.

"I'm going to ask the court to appoint you administrator, Daniel. You
ever acted? Well, you might as well have the experience. I might take it
myself, but I'm pretty busy and there'll be some running back and forth
to do. You come back in a day or two and we'll see how things stand by
that time. As soon as Sylvia gets rested she'll go back to college to
finish up, and then come to me for the summer."

"She might not like my having anything to do with her affairs," Dan
suggested. "I shouldn't want to seem to be intruding."

"Oh, Sylvia likes you well enough. The main thing is getting somebody
that you've got confidence in. I know some people here, and I guess the
court will do about what we want."

"I should have to come over here frequently until everything was
settled," Dan added, thinking of his duties in the city. "I suppose if
you find it possible for me to serve that I shall have to get Mr.
Bassett's consent; he pays for my time, you know."

"That's right, you ask him; but be sure to tell him that I want it to be
that way. Morton won't make any fuss about it. I guess you do enough
work for him. What's he paying you, Daniel?"

"Eighteen hundred since he got the paper-mill receivership."

She made no comment, but received the intelligence in silence. He knew
from the characteristic quick movement of her eyelids that she was
pondering the equity of this carefully; and his loyalty to Bassett
asserting itself, he added, defensively:--

"It's more than I could begin to make any other way; and he's really
generous about my time--he's made it plain that he wants me to keep up
my r