pt decision. "There is room for me in the coach. I am going
along."

"You--what in the world do you mean? You'll do nothing of the
sort!" rejoined Dunwody. "It's going to be no place for women, up
there. It's a _fight_, this time!"

"Perhaps not for Jeanne or Hector's mother, or for many women; but
for me it is the very place where I belong! _I_ made that trouble
yonder. It was I, not you, who caused that disaffection among the
blacks. Your neighbors ought to blame me, not you--I will explain
it all to them in a moment, in an instant. Surely, they will
listen to me. Yes, I am going."

Dunwody looked at her in grave contemplation for an instant.

"In God's name, my dear girl, how can you find it in your heart to
see that place again? But do you find it? Will you go? If you
insist, we'll take care of you."

"Of course! Of course!" she replied, and even then was busy
hunting for her wraps. "Get ready! Let us start."

"Have cushions and blankets for the carriage, Eleazar," said
Dunwody quietly. "Better get a little lunch of some sort to take
along. Go down to the barn yonder and get fresh horses. I don't
think this team could stand it all the way back."

CHAPTER XXXI

THE SPECTER IN THE HOUSE

The travel-stained figures of Doctor Jamieson, Judge Clayton and
the Honorable William Jones met the Dunwody coach just as it was
leaving at the upper end of St. Genevieve's main street. They also
had found fresh horses, and in the belief of Dunwody it was quite
as well that they rode horseback, in common with the followers of
Hector, who presently came trooping after him. The interior of the
coach seemed to him more fittingly reserved for this lady and
himself. None the less, the Honorable William had abated none of
his native curiosity. It was his head which presently intruded at
the coach window.

"Ah, ha!" exclaimed he. "What? Again? This time there is no
concealment, Dunwody! Come, confess!"

"I will confess now as much as I ever had to confess," retorted
Dunwody angrily. "If you do not know yet of this lady, I will
introduce you once more. She is the Countess St. Auban, formerly
of Europe, and now of any place that suits her. It is no business
of yours or of mine why she was once there, or cares to go there
again; but she is going along with us out to Tallwoods."

Judge Clayton made salutation .more in keeping with good courtesy
than had his inquisitive friend. "I have been fo