e at once."

The child's head was high in the air. She caught her breath. Her eyes had
a queer, eerie look in them. "You can't take me back now," she insisted.
"The spell is broken. I shall never see old Sal again."

Madge put her arm about the small witch girl. "Let her stay here just
to-night, Mrs. Curtis, please," begged Madge earnestly. "I wish to find
out something about her. I will look after her and see that she does not
do any harm."

Quite seriously and gently Tania knelt on one knee and kissed Mrs.
Curtis's hand. "Let me stay. I shall be on my way again in the morning,"
she pleaded, "but I am a little afraid of the night."

"My dear child," said Mrs. Curtis, gently drawing the waif to her side,
"you are far too little to be running away from home. You may stay here
to-night, then to-morrow we will see what we can do for you. I won't
trouble you with her to-night, Philip," she added, turning to her guest.

"It will be no trouble," returned Philip Holt blandly. "She lives less
than an hour's ride from here. Her foster mother will be greatly worried
at her absence."

Mrs. Curtis looked hesitatingly at Tania, who had been listening with
alert ears. The child's black eyes took on a look of lively terror.
"Please, please let me stay," she begged, clasping her thin little hands
in anxious appeal.

"Won't you let Tania stay here to-night, Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge for
the second time. "I am sorry to disagree with Mr. Holt, but I do not
believe that poor little Tania is either lawless or incorrigible. The
woman who claims her is the most cruel, brutal-looking person I ever saw.
I am sure she is not Tania's mother. Let me keep her here to-night, and
to-morrow I will inquire into her case."

"Very well, Madge," said Mrs. Curtis reluctantly. She glanced toward
Philip Holt. His eyes, however, were fixed upon Madge with an expression
of disapproval and dislike. For the first time it occurred to Mrs. Curtis
that Philip Holt might be very disagreeable if thwarted. She immediately
dismissed the thought as unworthy when the young man said smoothly: "I
shall be only too glad to have Miss Morton investigate the child's
record. I am sorry that my word has not been sufficient to convince
her."

Madge made no reply to this thrust. Then an awkward silence ensued. Mrs.
Curtis looked annoyed, Tania triumphant, Madge belligerent, and the other
girls sympathetic. Making a strong effort, Philip Holt controlled his
anger and, ex