one of our brokers you
can pick up some information, like enough. I knew, as did others, that
Muir was having a rather hard time of it, but if there is pressing
danger I may have to take some action."

"In that case of course you can command me."

"I only wish to do what is fair and considerate among business men.
We'll lunch together when I come to town, and perhaps the case will be
clearer then."

During his drive with Miss Wildmere, Graydon simply adhered to the
tactics which he had adopted, and she saw that he was waiting until
the Arnault phase of the problem should be eliminated. When, however,
she took occasion to bewail the dismal prospects of her "poor papa,"
and to open the way for him to speak naturally of his own and his
brother's affairs, he was gravely silent. She didn't like this, for
it tended to confirm her father's belief that they were in trouble,
or else it looked like suspicion of her motive. The trait of reticence
which Graydon at times shared with his brother was not agreeable, for
it suggested hidden processes of thought which might develop into
very decisive action. She came back satisfied that Graydon was still
thoroughly "in hand," and that she must obtain information in some
other way, if possible.

There was sacred music in the parlor during the evening, but neither
Miss Wildmere nor Madge would sing in solo. Graydon good-naturedly
tried to arrange a duet between the two girls. The former declined
instantly, yet took off the edge of her refusal by saying, "I would
gladly sing for you if I could, but do not care to permit all these
strangers to institute comparisons."

Therefore, the guests sang in chorus as usual, a professional playing
the accompaniments. There were few, however, who did not recognize
the strong, sweet alto which ran through each melody like a minor key.
Graydon's acute ear for music heard little else, and he said to Madge
"I shall be glad when this hotel life is over. What delicious evenings
I shall have this fall! By the way, I'm going to have your piano tuned
when I go to town."

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps what? Perhaps I shall remember about the tuner? You'll see."

"I may go back with the Waylands. I'm not at all sure that I shall not
spend my winter on the Pacific."

"Why, Madge! With your health you could spend it in Greenland."

"That's what I may do. We always have a lovely green land in that
climate."

"I must investigate Santa Barbara. You have left some