At the request of the colonel Clarice sung for them, and when she had done so she turned and asked: “Do you not sing, Miss Arden?” “Yes, I am devoted to music,” was the simple reply. Urged to sing, she sat down to Clarice Carr’s harp which stood nearest to her side, and she had only to run her fingers over the strings to show that it was an artist’s hands that touched them. Then in a rich, melodious contralto she sang that old but charming ballad: I cannot sing those old songs, We’ve sung so oft together. Her hearers listened breathlessly, for her voice stirred their inmost hearts, and, when she had ceased, she said softly: “I do not know why I sang that song, for it was my brother’s favorite, and we often have sung together, for he has a superb voice, or, rather, had when I knew him in the long ago.” It was her first reference to her outlaw brother since entering the house, and, brave men that they were, Colonel Dunwoody and Major Lester felt the tears dimming their eyes in sympathy for the beautiful girl. But she quickly said, as though to destroy the effect she had caused by her song: “You have an exquisite soprano, Miss Carr, and I sing alto, so suppose we have a duet.” “Willingly,” and several duets were sung until Mrs. Lester said: “Now I am not half-satisfied yet, and, as the colonel has a lovely tenor and my husband sings bass, I insist upon a quartette.” All readily agreed, and the four fine voices accorded wonderfully well together, and until a late hour the musical treat was kept up. At last the colonel left, after a pleasant little supper, and as he walked back to his quarters he was in a contemplative mood, for he mused aloud: “At last I have met my ideal. I did begin to feel that in that brilliant woman Nina de Sutro I had found her, and that Clarice Carr was one to make me a happy man; but no, she of the dreamy eyes is my ideal, the reality of the portrait I saw years ago, and often wondered if I would ever meet a woman with just such a face. “And now the one who has that face is the sister of the vilest man who ever crossed my path. Still, an angel and a devil may be akin, and so it is with that man and this beautiful girl. Ah, me! I wish I could look back into the life of Ruth Arden and read it as an open book, for she interests me more than I would admit even to myself; yes, fascinates me.” And thus musing, Colonel Dunwoody reached his quarters. In the meanwhile those at the major’s had gone to their rooms for the night. Both Major Lester and his wife had spoken most kindly to Ruth and said that they were sorry she was not to remain at the fort, and Clarice had escorted the guest to her room. A sitting-room divided the chamber of Clarice from the one occupied by Ruth, and the two had talked together before saying good night.