In the meantime Harper Elliston, true to his word for once at least, left the train at the Woodburg depot on the same morning that his young detective friend arrived in Burlington. Repairing to his room at the hotel, the New Yorker remained until the dinner hour. After this he turned his steps in the direction of the Darrel Cottage. "I suppose Nell Darrel will be delighted to see me," chuckled Elliston, as he walked up the steps and rang the bell. Aunt Jule opened the door. "Marse Dyke ain't home." "But Miss Nell is, I suppose." "Yes, and deed, sir; she's got company, and can't see no one fur de present," cried the grinning negress, quickly. "Company? A lot of chattering girls, I suppose?" "No; a young gemmen----" "A gentleman?" The frown that blackened the brows of Harper Elliston was not pleasant to see. He was not pleased that Nell should receive other male company than himself. "I will enter. I think she will see me when she knows who has come," said he, pushing past the negress, and entering the front room. He seated himself in an armchair, and proceeded to coolly await the coming of the mistress of the house. Soon Nell Darrel came in. Her face was suffused with smiles, which evidenced that she had heard good news. Elliston, however, flattered himself that it was his coming that caused the pleased look on the face of the detective's sister. "A pleasant day, Mr. Elliston." "Rather." He rose and held out his hand. She did not accept it, much to his chagrin. "Aren't you glad to see me, Nell?" he queried. "I've been absent almost a week, and I thought you would be longing for my company by this time." A smile of self-assurance crossed his dark face. "I have no reason to regard you with any more consideration than on your former visit," she said. "Have you seen my brother?" "Yes." "Where is he now?" "In Iowa, I presume." "He is well?" "He was when I parted with him, a short time since. You haven't heard from him?" "Yes. He was then in a small town in the South or West, I believe." Thus they chatted for some time. During the past few days a desperate resolve had taken possession of Elliston's brain. He admired the pretty Nell now more than ever, and he was determined to make one more effort to win her regard before going to extremes. That morning he had braced his nerves with several draughts of brandy, and the fumes yet affected him, thus rendering him extremely imprudent, to say the least. "Nell, Jule tells me you had company when I came. Who was it?" "A gentleman." "Aye, but his name?" The man's eyes glittered, and seemed to pierce with their keenness to the soul of the girl who sat in front of him. She could smell his breath, too, and the fact that he had been drinking made her a little nervous. She was anxious for him to depart. "He is not one of your acquaintances," replied Nell, evasively. "But one of yours, it seems," sneered the man, in a tone that was the least bit disrespectful.