ects by a mere nonentity who looked no
higher than a job as waitress at Brophy's tavern.

Then he went into the tavern out of the darkness and blinked at the
landlord, who called him to the desk and gave a letter into his hands.
It was sealed, but there was no stamp on it.

"Ordered by Mrs. Everett to hand it to you," reported Brophy, sourly.
"She wanted to see you last time you were down, but it slipped my mind
to tell you."

Latisan read the note. The lady of the parlor entreated him to come to
her on a matter of business, no matter how late the hour might be. He
tore up the paper on his way to the fireplace and tossed the bits on the
embers.

"Same room for me?" he asked Brophy.

"Yes, but Mrs. Everett said for me----"

"Damn Mrs. Everett! I'm going to bed."

It consoled him a little, as he walked upstairs, to reflect that he was
not dominated by all the women in the world, even if he was in the way
of making himself a fool over one.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Latisan, going to sleep, hoped that he would awake with a saner
viewpoint.

He did admit to himself in the morning that if Echford Flagg should show
the right spirit of compromise the thing could be patched up on terms
which would allow the drive master to be his own man instead of being a
spanked youngster.

The girl seized an opportunity to speak to him when she brought his
breakfast. "Things look better this morning--I'm sure they do. Tell me.
I worried half the night. I must not be the cause of trouble."

"Yes, they look better."

"And you're starting back to-day for the drive?" Her voice was low but
eager. "Tell me that you are!"

His smouldering suspicion! Red tongues of fire darted up from it!

"I'm afraid you won't be able to get rid of me to-day. Business is
keeping me here."

Her entreating smile faded; she backed way from him as if she had
received a rude thrust, and then she went about her work.

There was a real sensation in the tavern that morning! The exclusive
star boarder of the parlor came into the public room to eat her
breakfast. Her charms were enhanced by a becoming morning wrap, and,
following out her liberal code governing the relations of sex in modern
days, she seated herself at Latisan's table, greeting him with a
mingling of bright good humor and gentle rebuke.

"Give me a good reason why you have not been the advising friend you
promised to be, and I may not be too angry, Mr. Latisan."

"I--I thought I'd wai