"He went to the city this morning. He said he'd come home on the local if he got through his business in time. Otherwise he wouldn't come till the midnight train. I thought Bill could get a rig and drive to Faber. I thought he could take me away somehow before Wilfred got the news." "News? Great God!" cried Jap. "And such as you could win the golden heart of Bill Bowers! Come with me. If your husband takes the late train, there is still time to destroy that note. If he is already at home----" "He'd go to the office first, anyway," Rosy cried. "But I don't want to go home." "You're going home, no matter what the consequences," Jap told her. "And if you ever attempt to communicate with Bill again, I will have you put in an asylum. You are not capable of going through life sensibly." He walked her rapidly up the railroad track and through the streets that lay between the business part of Barton and her own pretty home. On the corner opposite the house he stopped, while she ran across the street in terror and rushed up the steps. She had told him that if all was yet well, she would appear at the window. As he stood there, his eyes glued on the great square of glass, some one touched him on the arm. He turned. It was Wilfred Jones. "Well, Daddy-long-legs," he said brusquely. "You think you turned a pretty trick. Well, it was a fair fight, and I'm all over it." Jap shook his hand mechanically, his eyes seeking the window from which Rosy was peering. "Tell Bill that bygones must be bygones," Jones continued, "for we want to get the two papers together on the main issue. The old man will come in on the senatorship on the strength of his race for governor. And I want to tell you a secret that makes me very happy--and will make Bill feel different. The doctor has just told me that these queer spells and moods that Rosalie has been having lately mean--Jap, do you understand? I will be a father before summer!" Jap wrung Jones's hand, a whirl of fancies going through his head. As he sought for suitable words of congratulation, a boy ran up. "I been chasin' all over town ahuntin' for you, Mr. Herron," he said breathlessly. "I got a telegram for you." Trembling with dread, Jap tore it open and read: "_Come home at once. Your sister Agnosia is here._--BILL." CHAPTER XXII The streets were deserted as Jap came from the station. In his state of mind, he did not reflect on the oddity of this circumstance. But had he reflected, the condition of traffic congestion at the corner near Blanke's drug store and the further congestion in front of the bank would have enlightened him. All the business men of Bloomtown, who had rushed to the _Herald_ office with important advertisements or news items, were reluctantly giving place to those who had discovered a sudden want of letter-heads.