“It――it looks more like an H,” he answered. “It is an H! Now may I have it?” “But it ought to be a D,” he said. “H stands neither for Devereux, Laura, nor Clytie.” “I never said it did!” “This is quite plainly not your property,” he went on, refolding it. “Being unable to find the owner, I shall retain possession of it.” “But it’s mine!” she cried. “Yours? What does the H stand for, then?” She hesitated and flushed. “I never said my name was Laura Devereux,” she murmured. “No, but you see I happen to know that it is.” He replaced the handkerchief in his pocket. Then he reached forward and took the paper and envelope from her lap. “I shall write an advertisement myself,” he said. She watched him while he did so, biting her lip in smiling vexation. When it was done he passed the composition across to her. “FOUND!” “A lady’s lace-bordered handkerchief bearing the initial H in one corner. Owner may recover same by proving ownership and rewarding finder. Apply to Vertumnus, care Clytie, Lotus Pool, Arcadia, between ten and twelve.” [Illustration] “What’s the reward?” she asked. He shook his head thoughtfully. “I haven’t decided yet. Something――rather nice, I fancy.” A faint flush crept into her cheeks and she turned her gaze toward the pool. “It is much cooler to-day,” she said. “Yes, last night’s thunder-storm cleared the air,” he replied, in a similar conversational tone. She glanced at the tiny watch hanging at her belt. Then she murmured something and sprang lightly to her feet before Ethan could go to her assistance. “You are not going?” he asked in dismay. She nodded gravely. “But it’s quite early!” “I don’t think it right to associate with dishonesty,” she answered severely. “You know very well that that handkerchief is mine!” “Yes, I do,” he answered. “That is, I saw you drop it yesterday. Probably it belongs really to someone else. Unless――” he smiled――“unless you bought it at a bargain sale? In which case the initial didn’t really matter, I suppose.” “Will you give it to me?” she asked unsmilingly. “But it’s such a little thing!” he pleaded earnestly. “You have so many more that surely the loss of this one won’t inconvenience you. And I――I’ve taken a fancy to it.” “That’s a convenient excuse for theft!” she answered. “It’s the only one I have to offer,” he replied humbly. “But――it’s so absurd!” she cried impatiently. “What can you want with it?” He was silent a moment. She glanced furtively at his face and then moved a few steps toward the house. “I wonder if you really want me to tell you?” he mused. “Tell me what?” she asked uneasily. “Why I want to keep it.” “I don’t think I am――especially interested,” she answered coldly. “Are you going to return it?” “Maybe; in a moment. You don’t want to hear the reason?” “I――Oh, well, what is the reason?” she asked impatiently.