Mrs. MacGregor made port promptly and as promptly Uncle Sid began to
deliver his message.

"Well, Eunice, it seems you've finally settled to the conviction that
there's more money in a servant o' the Lord than in folks that's got
handles to their names."

"What do you mean, Sidney?"

"What do you mean, Eunice, takin' your ward's money an' puttin' it into
this wild-cat business?"

"I'm not aware that I have told you or any one else what I have done
with Alice's money."

"I'm perfectly aware o' you, Eunice, an' I have been for a good many
years. You ain't got a cent o' your own an' you've been spungin' off
from Alice. She didn't seem to mind, so I didn't interfere; but this is
different. You just back right out now or I'll make you." Uncle Sid's
face was not pleasant to contemplate.

Mrs. MacGregor smiled complacently.

"It seems to me that you are very suddenly and deeply interested in my
doings."

"I am!" Uncle Sid snapped out. "An' for two reasons. In the first place
you are swindling Alice out o' her money, an' in the second, the good
name o' the Harwoods is in danger. Either one is enough to rile my
fightin' blood, an' take 'em both together, I'm fifty years younger'n my
birthday calls for."

Mrs. MacGregor spoke coldly.

"You are very much mistaken, Sidney, if you think you are frightening
me."

"I am mistaken. I never thought you a fool, I declare if I did! Not this
kind. Accordin' to my notion, you've tried on a powerful lot o'
different kinds o' fool, but I never thought you'd settle down to this."

Mrs. MacGregor vouchsafed no reply. She went to her closet, and began
sorting various articles of clothing and laying them out on the bed.

"What are you up to now?"

"I'm going East on business."

Uncle Sid rose to his feet and walked to Mrs. MacGregor. Laying his
hands on her shoulders, he turned her sharply till her eyes met his. The
eyes that looked coldly into his had a well-bred, unruffled stare,
exasperatingly insolent, exasperating, because they gave no open ground
for resentment.

"Eunice, I'm going to make a fool of myself. I've got two hundred
thousand laid up in the best kind o' securities. They bring me in ten
thousand a year. You just get back that girl's money, an' I'll give you
this so long as I live. If I go first, an' it's likely I will, I'll fix
it so you'll get it so long's you live."

Mrs. MacGregor spoke calmly.

"Why didn't you say this to me before?"

"Because there