"Can you think I am that sort of a man?" he asked abruptly and the tenseness of his voice made her glance up at him again. Helen made another remarkable discovery--that he had fine eyes and a splendid mouth and nose. "Can you think I am that sort of a man?" he repeated slowly, forcing her to continue to yield her eyes to his earnest regard. "No, no," Helen returned hastily. "I did not mean it that way--only I cannot quite understand it. You never saw me till a few hours ago, and then--and then I was engaged"---- She paused and shuddered. "But that was a case of hypnotism," burst out the young man, letting himself go again. "He is a marvelous man. I wish I had half of his strength of will and--and good looks. It is past belief that he is what he is, with all his talents, his appearance and his magnificent courage. If it is in my power the police shall not reach him. "At first my only object was to save you from the dreadful position of becoming the wife of such a man, and also from the scandal that must have followed if your elopement were discovered and he were arrested. But now I must confess that the man compels my admiration, and that I want to see him free for his own sake." "And he is still in the house?" said Helen, anxiously. "Yes, yes, and here comes your aunt. Now, I pray you, let me take the brunt of this storm. I will ask nothing more of you. I am Travers Gladwin and we were to have eloped--do you promise? For here she is." "Yes," Helen whispered, and then the storm burst. "So here you are at last, Helen Burton," came the first roll of thunder from the doorway. It was not as terrifying a rumble as it might have been had not the statuesque and tightly laced Mrs. Burton lost a good deal of breath in coming up the stairs. She came on into the room with tragic step, followed by Whitney Barnes and Sadie, the latter keeping very close to Barnes as if she feared that her cousin would cover her with reproaches for having revealed the secret of the projected elopement. "Calm yourself, madam; calm yourself," began Travers Gladwin, as he stepped between her and her niece. "And who are you, pray?" asked the majestic woman, haughtily. "I am to blame for it all," he cried. "I am Travers Gladwin." "What! You are Travers Gladwin! You are the wretch who sought to steal off in the dead of night with my niece and ward. You! You!" Mrs. Burton looked unutterable threats and maledictions. Travers Gladwin could not resist a smile, which he hid by bowing low and stammering: "I must humbly confess to being myself and plead guilty of the crime of falling passionately in love with your niece. I"---- Helen rose quickly to her feet and confronted her aunt. There was fire in the young girl's eye as she said: "Aunt Ella, it is all a mistake, this"---- "Now, Helen," Gladwin turned and took the young girl's hand, "please let me explain. You promised." "She promised what?" flared Mrs. Burton.