you are such a kind, good friend!" exclaimed Gabrielle. "It is your
sympathy and care that will save the lives of these men. Let me tell you
why I so promptly had him" (pointing to Jim, who was beyond hearing),
"registered as George Marshall, my brother. My father accuses him of
many things--many foolish things--but you know how it is with an
impetuous father; these things have been enlarged in his eyes by wicked
men, who are conspiring for gain. Detectives, they call themselves, and
so long as my father hesitates to publicly expose his family, these men
feed upon his fears. I have good reason to believe that Mr. Hopkins, so
long friendly to him--whose real name is James Hosley--is now his bitter
enemy, for he has given information concerning him to the authorities.
And my real name is Gabrielle Tescheron, so you see--"

"Gracious! But this is a conspiracy," exclaimed Hygeia, deeply
interested and ready to declare her loyalty to the lovers. "How can you
account for the base treachery of that man?" (pointing toward my room,
the quarters of the despicable villain in the case.) "What a miserable
wretch he must be!"

"But, my dear," said Gabrielle, who now felt that she was established on
a firm footing of intimacy with the nurse, "I am not positive as to
that, although I have good reason to believe he has deserted his old
chum; still I am not sure, for I have only heard so through my father,
who is, of course, strongly prejudiced. There are many things I do not
understand. I do know that a subpoena has been issued for my father on
the complaint of Mr. Hopkins, and so, of course, he must have informed
the officials concerning Mr. Hosley, probably accusing him directly as
alleged by the detectives and outlined to me hastily by my father. Had
Mr. Hopkins not done this we would not have been hurried out of the
State to escape the unpleasant publicity of which my father has a
horror. Oh, father is such a hot-head!"

"Your love is all you base your loyalty on," smiled Hygeia, and
embracing Gabrielle, she kissed her desperately. "Indeed, no harm shall
visit either of you," Hygeia tenderly assured Gabrielle.

"But to me this situation is very silly," added Gabrielle. "And were it
not for my hasty father and this fire intervening, I know full well that
Mr. Hopkins would have made an explanation which would have exonerated
Jim. I feel so, but I shall take no risks--no risks whatever, mind you.
While I do feel that perfidy in Mr.