nclusions. I've a premonition
you won't have to go back. Here comes some one who'll have a word to
say about that--or I don't know!"

And he was up before Sally had grasped his meaning--on his feet and
bowing civilly, if with a twinkling countenance, to a woman who
swooped down upon him in a sudden, wild flutter of words and
gestures:

"Walter! Thank God I've found you! I've been so upset--hardly knew
what to do--when you didn't show up. . . ."

What more she might have said dried instantly on the newcomer's lips
as her gaze embraced Sally. She stiffened slightly and drew back,
elevating her eyebrows to the frost-line.

"Who is this woman? What does this mean?" Without awaiting an answer
to either question, she observed in accents that had all the chilling
force and cutting edge of a winter wind:

"_My_ dress! _My_ hat!"

CHAPTER V

CONSPIRACY

"My dear sister!" interposed Mr. Savage with an imitation so exact of
the woman's tone that he nearly wrung a smile even from Sally. "Do
calm yourself--don't make a scene. The matter is quite easy to
explain--"

"But what--"

"Oh, give us a chance. But permit me!" He bowed with his easy laugh.
"Adele, this is Miss Manvers--Miss Manvers, my sister Mrs. Standish.
And now"--as Sally half started from her chair and Mrs. Standish
acknowledged her existence by an embittered nod--"do sit down, Adele!"

With the manner of one whose amazement has paralysed her parts of
speech, the woman sank mechanically into the chair which Savage
(having thoughtfully waved away the hovering waiter) placed beside the
table, between himself and his guest. But once seated, precisely as if
that position were a charm to break the spell that sealed them,
promptly her lips reformed the opening syllables of "_What does this
mean?_"

Mr. Savage, however, diplomatically gave her no chance to utter more
than the first word.

"Do hold your tongue," he pleaded with a rudeness convincingly
fraternal, "and listen to me. I am deeply indebted to Miss
Manvers--for my very life, in fact. Oh, don't look so blamed
incredulous; I'm perfectly sober. Now _will_ you please give me a
show?"

And, the lady executing a gesture that matched well her look of blank
resignation, her brother addressed himself to a terse summing up of
the affair which, while it stressed the gravity of the adventure with
the fat burglar, did not seem to extenuate Sally's offence in the
least and so had the agreeable upshot of le