the next room and
breathlessly announced:

"Miss Tescheron, Mr. Hopkins has begun to ask questions at last. The
first thing he asked almost was: 'Where is Hosley? Is he in jail? Hasn't
he been here to see me? Was he hurt? Was he killed? Hasn't he written to
me?' and I asked him why he should ask me. He also wanted to know who
sent the flowers, and I told him, but he made no answer. He didn't seem
to think it possible Miss Tescheron should send flowers to him. What do
you make of it? I think he is perfectly friendly, don't you? He wants to
know so much about Mr. Hosley."

"Certainly he's friendly; let me be wheeled right in to see him. Oh,
please; just for a minute," begged Jim, who was now sitting up with his
leg stretched out on a pillow.

"Why should he ask if you are in jail? I don't like that at all; not at
all. I will not consent. He has not forgotten his treachery. I will not
trust the fellow. Let us wait until he talks a little more." And so
Gabrielle's caution intervened.

But I didn't ask any more questions about Hosley.

CHAPTER XIV

Circumstances usually arise along the path of folly to make it
increasingly expensive. Emil Stuffer appeared to supply one important
item. He had been attracted to Stevens Institute by the associations of
his home. The students from this great school gathered around his
father's hospitable fire and rested their brains when weary with the
curves of analytical geometry and the stupid exactness of the
differential calculus. Emil was clever at his profession--that of
mechanical engineer--and for five years after his graduation from the
Institute had devoted himself to that career. Then his father needed his
assistance in running the hotel, for in his older years A. Stuffer found
it difficult to move with alacrity, and unless more speed could be
introduced in the management he saw that it might appear in the
departure of the guests. Emil, therefore, had come home to fall heir in
due time to the business, and prior to the ceremonies attending that
event, he was to be his father's lieutenant, practicing his avocation as
an ornithologist, whose specialty was rare birds, at leisure moments.
Emil enjoyed also the work of the taxidermist, and loved dearly to cut
and stuff. Jerry, the wonderful cat of the glass case in the office,
gave only a hint of his skill and the remarkable perfection he achieved
in improving the designs of nature. Under Emil's mechanical touch Jerry
beca