eless man with a revolver. It--it
doesn't seem like him."

"But you have Abel Landover's word for it, Ruth. The bullet grazed his
head. The coward would have killed him most certainly if he had not
succeeded in knocking the pistol out of his hand and overpowering him."

"If I did not believe Mr. Landover to be an absolutely truthful,
honourable man, I--" began Ruth, a little furrow between her eyebrows,
"well, I might still believe a little in Mr. Percival."

"And what chance had poor Landover with that highwayman, or whatever he
is, pointing a revolver at him through the porthole and threatening to
blow his brains out if he did not throw up his hands and let Percival
alone?"

Olga Obosky bandaged Percival's hand. She intercepted him on his way to
Dr. Cullen's cabin.

CHAPTER III.

During the days and weeks that followed, Percival maintained an
attitude of rigid but courteous aloofness. Only on occasions when it was
necessary to consult with Ruth and her aunt on matters pertaining to
the "order of the day" did he relax in the slightest degree from the
position he had taken in regard to them.

In time, the captious Mrs. Spofford began to resent this studied
indifference. She detested him more than ever for not running true to
the form she had predicted; her apprehensiveness gave way to irritation.
She resented his dignified, pleasant "good mornings"; she complained
acidly to Ruth about what she was now pleased to describe as "disgusting
superciliousness."

The truth of the matter was, he failed to take any account whatsoever
of Mrs. Spofford in his calculations; he did not even make a pretence
of consulting her in matters relating to the common good of the common
people, and as she was in the habit of devoting a considerable portion
of her time, energy and executive ability to the interests of the common
or lower class people, the omission was an insult.

Nor was his cause benefited by the unnecessary and uncalled for
deference he seemed to feel was due her on account of her age. What had
her age to do with it? No one had ever deferred to her age in New York?
She was one to be reckoned with, she was accustomed to the deference
that hasn't anything at all to do with age. And here she was, shunted
to one side, ignored, disregarded,--she who had been the brains and
inspiration of a dozen charitable enterprises, to say nothing of
war-work and very important activities in opposition to Woman Suffrage!