Thorpe, acutely alarmed by
the little man's actions, to say nothing of his words, which under other
circumstances might have been at least intelligent.

"Anne! Why, she's--What do you think she's going to do? Or maybe you know
already. Maybe you've put her up to this idiotic--Say, what _do_ you know
about it?" He was glaring at his friend. The goggles rested on the floor
in a far corner of the consultation-room.

"In heaven's name, Simmy, cool off! I haven't the remotest idea of what
you are talking about. What has happened?"

"Nothing has happened yet. And it mustn't happen at all. You've got to
stop her. She has threatened to do it before, and now she comes out flat-
footed and says she's going to do it,--absolutely, irrevocably, positively.
Is that plain enough for you? Absolutely, irrev--"

"Would you mind telling me what she is going to do?"

Simmy sat down rather abruptly and wiped his moist, dust-blackened brow.

"She's going to give away every damned nickel of that money she got from
old Mr. Thorpe,--every damned nickel of it, do you hear? My God! She _is_
crazy, Brady. We've got to put her in a sanitarium--or torium--as soon as we
can get hold of--Hi! Look out!"

Thorpe had leaped forward and was shaking him furiously by the shoulders.
His eyes were wide and gleaming.

"Say that again! Say it again!" he shouted.

"Say it, damn you, Simmy! Can't you see that I want you to say it again--"

"Say--it--again," chattered Simmy. "Let go! How the dickens can I say
anything with you mauling me all over the--"

"I'm sorry! I will--try to be sensible--and quiet. Now, go on, old
chap,--tell me all there is to tell." He sank into a chair and leaned
forward, watching every expression that crossed his friend's face--watching
with an intensity that finally got on Simmy's nerves.

"She wrote me,--I got the letter yesterday,--Lordy, what did I do with it?
Never mind. I'll look for it later on. I can remember nearly every word,
so it doesn't matter. She says she has made up her mind to give all that
money to charity. Some darned nonsense about never knowing happiness as
long as she has the stuff in her possession. Absolute idiocy! Wants me to
handle the matter for her. Lawyer, and all that sort of thing, you see. I
know what the game is, and so do you. She'd sooner have you than all that
money. By Gosh! I--here's something I never thought of before." He paused
and wiped his brow, utter bewilderment in his eyes. "It h