Suddenly there was a strange fluttering in the air above him, a tremulous, expectant thrill. Looking up he saw a flock of birds, wheeling and circling above him, making ready to light. Night after night they had traveled, over forests and across dark rivers, valiantly beating their frail wings against the gale, one purpose urging them on, straight as an arrow through the silent air,--the longing to find their old haunts under the friendly shelter of the Hill, and there to keep their love trysts in the place called home. Donald's throat contracted sharply. Never in those tumultuous days in Japan, nor in those desperate ones in Singapore had he wanted Miss Lady as he wanted her now. It was not her youth or her beauty that he was thinking of; it was the firm confident clasp of her hand, the unfaltering courage of her eyes, her words, “I do believe in you, Don, with all my heart and soul.” He was like a starving man who must have bread even if it belongs to another. Before he knew it he was plunging down the footpath to the road. Connie would be his excuse, although he had been rather conscience-stricken about Connie of late. She had developed a taste for exploring that beguiling land of Flirtation where the boundary lines have never been defined, and dangers are known to lurk beyond the borders. As an old and experienced adventurer he felt that he had already accompanied her too far. As he reached Thornwood's big colonial gateway, he found some one alighting from a buggy. “Hello, Wick!” he said. “Wait, I'll open it for you. I thought you were staying in town!” Noah removed a pair of unmistakably new tan gloves and opened the gate for himself. “I am staying in town,” he said distantly “Are you coming in here?” “Yes, I think I will drop in for a little while, unless you have an engagement?” Noah's pause was even longer than usual. “No,” he drawled presently. “I can't say I have. Will you get in?” Donald could not suppress a smile as he got in beside him, and noticed the grandeur of his toilet. “You are getting awfully dressy these days, old chap. Who's the girl?” “You know who it is.” “You surely don't mean Connie Queerington! Now, Wick, you want to go slow and not trifle with that girl. The first thing you know she will be falling in love with you.”, Noah's lip stiffened. “If you would leave her alone perhaps she might.” “What am I doing?” “The same thing you've always done. Going with a girl just long enough to spoil her for every other fellow, then going off and forgetting all about her.” Donald looked in amazement at the angry face beside him. “What in thunder do you mean by that, Wick?” “What I say. I guess it hasn't been so long ago that we've both forgotten another instance.” “See here, Wick,” said Donald, his anger rising, “you'd better drop this. You don't know what you are talking about.”