s and put them away carefully in his breast
pocket.

"Good-night, sir!"

"Good-night, Harwood!"

The dancing continued above. Mrs. Owen insisted on seeing her last guest
depart, but begged Harwood to take Sylvia home at once. As they left a
few minutes later Dan caught a glimpse of Bassett sitting alone in the
smoking-room.

On the way to Elizabeth House Dan told Sylvia what had happened.

The carriage plunged roughly through the drifting snow. Sleet drove
sharply against the windows.

"He lied to me about it; and I thought that with all his faults he would
play square with me. The whole corporation lobby is back of the bill. I
was stupid not to have seen it earlier; I've been a dull ass about a lot
of things. But it's over now; I'm done with him."

"I'm glad--glad you met it squarely--and glad that you settled it
quickly. I'm glad"--she repeated slowly--"but I'm sorry too."

"Sorry?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry for him!"

CHAPTER XXV

THE LADY OF THE DAGUERREOTYPE

"Daniel doesn't seem to be coming," remarked Mrs. Owen. "He hardly ever
misses a Sunday afternoon."

"He's working hard. I had no idea legislators had to work so hard," said
Sylvia.

They sat in Mrs. Owen's office, which was cosier than the sitting-room,
and the place where she seemed most comfortable. Since we looked at her
desk last a file-hook has been added to its furniture, and on it hang
impaled a few cuttings from agricultural newspapers. The content of
these clippings will ultimately reach the "Courier's" readers,--there is
no doubt of that, as Mrs. Owen and Mr. Atwill now understand each other
perfectly. It was the first Sunday in March and a blustery day, with
rain and sleet alternating at the windows and an impudent wind whistling
in the chimneys. Hickory logs snapped pleasantly in the small fireplace
that was a feature of the room. Sylvia had dined with her friend, and
the day being of the sort that encourages confidences, they had
prolonged their talk.

"When did you see Daniel last?" asked Mrs. Owen casually.

"Last night," replied Sylvia, meeting her friend's eyes easily. "He
dropped in for a little while. He wanted to talk about his stand on
that corporation bill."

"Well, he and Morton have broken up housekeeping. Daniel has climbed on
to the other side of the breastworks."

Sylvia smiled. "Yes, that's about it. But I think he has acted quite
finely about it."

"You mean he didn't jump on Morton as he might have don