"Take away your arm then, please," faltered Lura Ann. And just then Ben Falconer, coming across a field in his coarse working clothes, saw her drooping with the blush upon her cheek and Sackford's arm about her waist. He stood still, and looked after the handsome team with a frown and a sigh. Lura Ann had not seen him, but Sackford had, and secretly blessed the hour. Yet he did not dare kiss Lura Ann, as he had intended. "Where shall I take you first?" he asked, as they entered the town. "To Mr. Wright's, if you please." "Of course--he holds some little money belonging to her, I've heard," thought Sackford. "Don't wait for me," she said, but he waited, and she was gone a long time. When she came out she was pale, as if she had been worried. Yet she looked resolute, and spoke in a tone that had lost all its timidity. "Take me to the old red brick house at the end of the street," she said, eagerly, "and oh be quick!" "Why, what's the attraction in that old rookery--a new milliner?" jested Sackford. He could not conceive the idea of a woman's being interested in anything but clothes. Lura Ann's slim hand closed tightly under her shawl about the old purse that had come out empty and was now full to bursting with currency. Five hundred dollars! She was of age to-day, and had drawn it in her own name, every cent. Milliner! Yes, her hat was shabby, but no matter about that. Sackford was smiling to himself at her excitement as he helped her out on to the stone step before the old red brick house. She rang the bell, and there was no response. Her courage seemed to be oozing away as she waited. "Better come back," called Sackford. But she shook her head and applied herself to the bell again. After a moment a shuffling step approached and the door opened a few inches, allowing a man's head to be seen. He was old and grim-looking. Lura Ann said something low and timidly, and after a look of keen scrutiny he let her in. Sackford felt an indescribable reluctance to have her go in. After about five minutes she appeared at the door with a paper in her hand, and beckoned him. He sprang out quickly, tied his horses, and stepped into the hall beside her. "Oh, please see if that is all right," she entreated, putting a legal paper in his hand. "You are a lawyer, and _he_--this gentleman, said to let you see it." Sackford glanced from it to her, saw her total unconsciousness of anything out of the way, frowned, bit his lip, and examined the document with care. "It is all right," he then said. "It is a full release. Is this what you want?" "Yes, oh, yes, thank you! and I am much obliged to you, sir," she added, sweetly, to the grim old man who stood looking on from the background. He bowed sardonically. "The obligation is on my side, young lady," he said. "By Jove! It is on somebody else's side," thought Sackford, as he put Lura Ann back into the vehicle; adding, aloud, "I don't like this."