Long before the hour for Alberg’s return, Vreeland knew that Hugh Conyers was absent at New Orleans, on a mission for the “Clarion,” and that his art-loving sister had accompanied him, en route to Colorado Springs, for the rest of the raw spring season. Their dainty little apartment was closed and locked. There were thus two dangerous enemies out of the way. At five o’clock the travel-wearied Dr. Alberg returned with his budget of news. “There has been a devil of a scene up at Lakemere,” growled the Teuton. “I found my handsome vixen of a patient in a decidedly healthy rage. This Senator Garston came up on a train an hour later than mine. “There was a violent quarrel between him and our patroness. Justine could only linger near enough to hear loud voices, and soon, Garston dashed away as madly as if the Wild Huntsman was after him. Now, our one friend bids me tell you that Sara Conyers has really gone West on business for Mrs. Willoughby. “The pretty fraulein has vanished, too—but she is in some plot. The night before the Conyers woman left, the three sat up nearly the whole night. Justine would have followed this girl, but she can not manage to be even a moment out of the mistress’ sight. And old Endicott comes and goes every day. Justine hates the very shadow of the Garland woman, for Madame has taken one of her sudden fits of fancying a new face—you know how that lasts,” growled Alberg. Harold Vreeland sought out Senator Garston, whom he found at dinner, with the sparkling California beauty at his side. A few whispers were exchanged, and then, an appointment was soon made. Garston gave no sign to the young man that he had listened that day to a defiance unto death. “He is a liar, too,” mused Vreeland, and yet, for all this, he forgot, too, to even mention that he had been out of town. And yet, gazing into Katharine Norreys’ inviting eyes, as he bade her adieu, Vreeland found that part of his “purchase price” to be wonderfully fair. “I could go easily through life with her, backed by a senatorial ‘push,’ and plenty of money. “But I will have it all secured. The money all paid down first. Garston then becomes my real employer. In this ominous drift, I must change ships at sea—always a risky business, but yet the bold-hearted Perry won laurels and immortality thereby. And yet, this man may be tricking me.” Vreeland, after cogitation, realized that Garston had not actually lied, but he had prudently held back the truth. “I suppose that he is holding the old secret of her early life over her. “Who the dickens was the missing man? This girl must have had a father. And that father hailed Elaine Willoughby as ‘Margaret’ in her heyday. “I suppose this cold, granite-hearted upstart has blackmailed his way into the secret pool of the ‘sweetness and light.’ “Sugar and Oil is a most profitable amorphous mixture. “And he would now like to block Alynton’s little game—and so to be free to hold the past over this wonder-working woman’s head.”