Treadwell, rose and confronted him. If Sandy could deceive and
hoodwink Levi Markham, what could others expect? Personally, Lans had
no desire to stone Sandy, but a fine glow was filling his heart. If
the way could be opened for him to help his people, could he not
achieve as much as Sandy: defeat his uncle's revenge--it seemed only
that to Lans, then--and, perhaps, when Sandy had come to terms, work
with him for the good of Lost Hollow?

It was splendid! Purpose and strength came to Treadwell. He was ready
for sacrifice; ready to forego the ease and joy of his city life; ready
to renounce his claims upon a certain little woman fighting her battle
apart from him! He would show Morley that he _could_ be pure and
resourceful, he could put his longings aside for the greater good!

Lans must always have his mental, spiritual, and physical food served
on dainty dishes! While he stood by Crothers he saw, in fancy, a noble
home arise above the trees on the old Hertford place. He saw his Aunt
Olive--no! it was not his Aunt Olive that he saw; it was--Treadwell's
breath came fast--it was Cynthia Walden who stood at the door of the
uprisen house of the Hertfords and smiled her radiant smile of welcome
to him!

Lansing Treadwell was always a victim of suggestion and flashes of
passion. The polished brutality of his father and the mystic
gentleness of his mother had been blended in him by a droll Fate and,
later, confused and corrupted by his Aunt Olive's ignorant training.

From that day Lansing Treadwell fell into the hands of Smith Crothers,
and the plotting evolved so naturally, so apparently wisely, that no
shock or sense of injustice aroused all that was good in the last of
the Hertfords. Crothers gradually assumed the guise of public
benefactor, a man who, resenting the obvious stupidity of men like Levi
Markham, for no ulterior motive other than human rights, undertook the
placing of Lansing Hertford upon the throne of his ancestors!

Secrecy was absolutely necessary. Conditions might arise to defeat
Crothers' philanthropic schemes, but when all was concluded Morley must
be taken into their confidence and made to understand that open and
fair competition was both right and democratic.

And while all this was going on Sandy toiled at the buildings all day,
reported progress to Levi every evening, tried to do his duty by
Treadwell, while he sought for some reason to get him away before any
harm was done.

It