prison; to give us time to
escape, if there is no other way; and to forgive the harm to yourself. I
know," she added earnestly, "it is a great deal to ask, but I have no
one else to go to. He has paid every cent, and you will lose nothing.
Tell me, dear Mr. Weil, is there anything you can do?"

He had the greatest struggle of his life to keep from bending over that
trembling mouth and pressing upon it the kiss he knew she would not
refuse; that mouth he had coveted so long and which must never be
touched by his lips!

"Can I do anything?" he repeated. "Certainly. I can stop that fellow so
quickly he won't know what ails him. Have no fear Miss Daisy. Go home
and rest in peace. Before the sun sets I will remove the last particle
of danger from your father's path."

The girl sprang to her feet and would have thrown her arms around his
neck had he not prevented her.

"You are certain you can do this?" she cried, beaming with happy eyes
upon him.

"There is not the least question of it. But--I must demand payment for
my trouble. I shall not do this work for nothing."

With a hot blush Daisy lowered her eyes to the carpet.

"I have already told you what I will do," she said, trembling. "If you
accomplish what you say, have no fear but I shall keep my word."

There was an element of pride and truth in the way she spoke that struck
the hearer strongly. The reverent smile on his face grew yet deeper.

"I am placed in a peculiar situation," he said, after a slight pause.
"Your sister has, unintentionally, no doubt, misrepresented matters in a
way that may be embarrassing for us both. When I have removed the
troubles that stand in your way, I will talk this over with you."

Daisy looked up quickly. What could he mean?

"I beg you to explain," she stammered. "If there has been any mistake no
time can be better to set it right than now."

The man toyed with the lace of the window curtain. He had no intention
of evading his duty, and yet he did not find it agreeable as he
proceeded.

"Your sister told me," he said, finally, "that--you loved me. She was
wrong. I knew all the time she was wrong. You have just offered to give
yourself to me in marriage in exchange for the efforts that I am to make
on your father's behalf. But I would not marry a woman who did not love
me--who only became mine from gratitude. No, I could not accept you
under such circumstances."

The young girl glanced at him timidly.

"I wish you kne