The captured fingers struggled a moment more, while the two pairs of eyes exchanged their combative gaze. There had never been any jocose passages between the girl and her father's favorite co-worker. There had been moments when she had even felt desire for his approval. The present audacity amazed and disconcerted her, and coercion was simply hateful. Finding effort to free herself futile, she set her tea down on the arm of her chair, and quickly taking up the cup, deliberately poured the hot, creamy liquid over as much of her captor's cuff as was visible. The cuff collapsed, the tea was hot. King abruptly dropped the girl's hand, and set himself to wiping his own with his handkerchief. "Now, will you be good?" laughed Henry; but Harriet fixed anxious eyes on the arm of the chair, hoping that Bertram's hand and cuff had received the whole of the baptism, and groaned within herself over the talents of her young sister as a trouble-maker. "And who calls it 'the cup that cheers'?" remarked King drily. CHAPTER III COLD WATER June heat dropped down on Chicago promptly that year and caused the Barrys to plan to leave town earlier than it suited the banker to go. Indeed, no weather condition ever made Linda's father willing to leave business. One evening, a few days before their intended departure, Bertram King came to the house to see his employer. The heavy door stood open after the hot day, and with the familiarity of an intimate he stepped inside, intending to take his way to his old friend's den, but in the hall he met Linda: Linda, blooming, dressed in white, and altogether lovely to look upon. Over her arm she carried a silk motor coat and a chiffon veil. The young man's face looked haggard by comparison with her fresh beauty, and he smiled unconscious admiration as he greeted the exhilaration of her breezy appearance. "Father is out," she said, "and I'm so glad!" "Why? Did you want to see me alone?" "I can't see you at all. I'm going out." "But he hasn't come yet." "Who?" "Your motoring friend. Why are you glad your father is out?" "Because I think he sees enough of you in the daytime. Too much. Father's very tired. Can't you see it? I'm going to run away with him on Saturday." "So I hear.--I'm somewhat seedy myself. I think I'll accept your urgent invitation to sit down until he comes." "He isn't coming. He'll be out all the evening." "I'm talking about your beau." There was an empty, nerveless quality to the visitor's voice which began to impress his companion. "Let's set a spell, as they say in Maine," he added. "I've been thinking about Maine to-day." Linda followed his lead into a reception room, where they sat down. "A pretty good place to think about, when Lake Michigan sizzles," she replied; "but I've chosen Colorado. We're going to Estes Park." "Yes, so Mr. Barry told me. I should like to go there too." King's tone was wistful.