“That was the thread by which I traced him to Santa Fe, and from there to that mining village, where I learned the story of my birth and my mother’s death; and this story will have to be sifted to the bottom,” Geoffrey concluded in a resolute tone. “Really, I do not see what use there will be in raising a row over the affair,” retorted Everet, with a supercilious glare at the young man. “There are hundreds of men who have been rather gay and wild in their youth, and if there have been girls in the world who were foolish enough to accept their favors, it is nobody’s business but their own, and worse than folly to rake it over. Colonel William Mapleson is a man who occupies an honorable position and bears a proud name. He is a high-tempered gentleman, too, and I warn you will brook no nonsense from any one.” Doctor Hoyt, who had been an interested listener thus far during the interview, turned abruptly on his heel, with an expression of supreme contempt at this speech. “Honorable position—proud name, forsooth! Possesses more temper than morality, I should judge, if his son is a specimen of the race,” he muttered, and then passed up stairs to ascertain if all was going well with his fair patient. The haughty heir of the house of Mapleson winced visibly beneath the scathing words. “Nevertheless,” said Geoffrey, with deliberate emphasis, in reply to what he had said, “Colonel William Mapleson will have to answer to me, _personally_, for the wrong—if wrong there was—that he did my mother. Now, sir, we have had enough of this for to-night, and _you can go_! Shall I call a carriage for you, or do you prefer to walk?” Everet burned to defy him in this, but he knew it would be useless to resist the resolute purpose which he read in every line of his stern face; so, after a moment’s hesitation, he said he would walk; and, with a sullen scowl on his face, and wrath flaming in his heart, he left the house and bent his steps toward the nearest hotel. Neither Geoffrey nor Mr. Huntress thought of retiring that night, though the physician soon after went away, saying Gladys would do well enough for several hours, and he would come around in the morning; while Mrs. Huntress caught a little sleep upon the lounge in her daughter’s room. They sat together until morning, reviewing Geoffrey’s life and laying plans for future action. When morning dawned it broke upon a saddened, yet, withal, upon a thankful household. Saddened because of the terrible ending of all the bright hopes which they had cherished only a few hours previous, but thankful because Gladys awoke once more herself, and that no harm had befallen Geoff, as they feared, during his long absence from home.