ation was
more than the young captain could resist. Regardless of consequences, he
shoved up the window and leaped inside the apartment.

"Keep your hands off of that young lady!" he cried, and catching the
Cossack by the shoulder he threw him backward. "Don't you know how to
treat a lady when you meet her, you big brute?"

The Cossack was startled, first because he had not expected the
interruption and secondly because he had no business to be in the
mansion. He gave one look at Ben and then rushed out into the hallway
and left the premises with all possible speed.

As soon as the Cossack was gone the young lady and Ben stared at each
other. She started to speak, but stopped suddenly.

"Excuse me for coming in as I did, but I thought it was necessary," said
the young captain. "I guess that fellow had no business here."

"You are right, sir. Papa is away, and he wanted me to give him money.
He must have known I was alone in the house."

"Are you Miss Chase?"

"I am. But you have the advantage of me."

"I know it. I am Captain Benjamin Russell. Perhaps you know an old
friend of mine, Gilbert Pennington. He knows your father, I believe."

"Oh, yes, I have met Captain Pennington. They tell me he is now in the
Japanese army."

"He is." Ben paused and looked at the young lady keenly. "Miss Chase,
can I trust you?" he asked, abruptly.

"What do you mean?"

"I will tell you," and in a few brief words he related his story, to
which Grace Chase listened with close attention.

"You were lucky to escape from that prison!" she cried, when he had
finished. "To be sure I will assist you as far as I can. Papa is away on
business, but I expect him back in two or three hours. We haven't much
on hand to eat, but such as there is you are welcome to."

"I'm hungry enough to eat anything," said Ben, with a little smile.

"Then come with me to the dining room, Captain Russell, and I will
prepare supper."

"You haven't any servants now, I suppose?"

"No; every one of them has deserted us."

They entered the dining room, and the young lady asked Ben to close the
shutters. While he was doing this she prepared such a meal as the larder
of the house afforded. It was not much, but he did not complain, and he
thanked her warmly for giving what he felt she could ill afford to set
before him.

The meal finished, they sat down to await the coming of Mr. Chase. While
doing this Ben related some of his experiences in the army and