"We came in the door," said Gladys, with some asperity, "and we are lookin' for M'ria's little sister. Be you her ma-in-law's cousin?" "I don't know who these people are," the young woman said, faintly, to the man. "I think they must be burglars." "Burglars, nothin'!" said Gladys, who had suddenly assumed the leadership of the party. Opposition and suspicion stimulated her. She loved a fight. "Be you her ma-in-law's cousin, and have you got her little sister?" Wollaston looked inquiringly at Maria, who was very pale. "It isn't Her cousin," she gasped. "I don't know who she is. I never saw her." Then Wollaston spoke, hat in hand, and speaking up like a man. "Pardon us, sir," he said, "we did not intend to intrude, but--" "Get out of this," said the man, with a sudden dart towards the door. His wife screamed again, and put her hand over a little diamond brooch at her throat. "I just know they are sneak-thieves," she gasped. "Do send them away, Tom!" Wollaston tried to speak again. "We merely wished to ascertain," said he, "if a lady by the name of Mrs. George A.--" "B." interrupted Gladys. "B. Edison lived here. This young lady's little sister is lost, and Mrs. Edison is a relative, and we thought--" The man made another dart. "Don't care what you thought," he shouted. "Keep your thoughts to yourself! Get out of here!" "Do you know where Mrs. George B. Edison lives now?" asked Wollaston, courteously, but his black eyes flashed at the man. "No, I don't." "No, we don't," said the young woman in pink. "Do make them go, Tom." "We are perfectly willing to go," said Wollaston. "We have no desire to remain any longer where people are not willing to answer civil questions." Maria all this time had said nothing. She was perfectly overcome with the conviction that Ida's cousin was not there, and consequently not Evelyn. Moreover, she was frightened at the little man's fierce manner. She clung to Wollaston's arm as they retreated, but Gladys turned around and deliberately stuck her tongue out at the man and the young woman in rose. The man slammed the door. The three met on the stoop of the house two people in gay attire. "Go up and see your friends that don't know how to treat folks decent," said Gladys. The woman looked wonderingly at her from under the shade of a picture hat. Her escort opened the door. "Ten chances to one they had the kid hid somewhere," said Gladys, so loudly that both turned and looked at her. "Hush up," said Wollaston. "Well, what be you goin' to do now?" asked Gladys. "I am going to a drug-store, and see if I can find out where Maria's relatives have moved to," replied Wollaston. He walked quite alertly now. Maria's discomfiture had reassured him. They walked along a few blocks until they saw the lights of a drug-store on the corner. Then Wollaston led them in and marched up to the directory chained to the counter. "What's that?" Gladys asked. "A Bible?"