Hetty shook her head, and involuntarily one hand went up and rested a moment on something that lay beneath the laces at her neck. "No," she said. "I am ever so sorry, Jake, but I have nothing whatever to offer you--now." "Then," said Cheyne, with a little gesture of resignation, "I suppose it can be borne because it must be--and I think I understand. I know he must be a good man--or you would never have cared for him." Hetty looked at him steadily, but the colour that had crept into her cheek spread to her forehead. "Jake," she said, "no doubt there are more, but I have met two Americans who are, I think, without reproach. I shall always be glad I knew them--and it is not your fault that you are not the right one." Cheyne made her a little grave inclination. "Then, I hope we shall be good friends when I meet the other one. I am going to stay some little time in the cattle country." "I almost hope you will not meet just yet," Hetty said anxiously, "and you must never mention what I have told you to anybody." "You have only told me that I was one of two good Americans," said Cheyne, with a quiet smile which the girl found reassuring. "Now, you don't want to send me away?" "No," said Hetty. "It is so long since I have seen you. You have come to help us against our enemies?" Cheyne saw the girl's intention, and was glad to fall in with it, but he betrayed a little embarrassment. "Not exactly, though I should be content if my duty amounts to the same thing," he said. "We have been sent in to help to restore order, and it is my business just now to inquire into the doings of a certain Larry Grant. I wonder if you could tell me anything about him?" He noticed the sudden intentness of Hetty's face, though it was gone in an instant. "What have you found out?" she asked. "Very little that one could rely upon. Everybody I ask tells me something different, he seems a compound of the qualities of Coleman the Vigilante, our first President, and the notorious James boys. As they were gentlemen of quite different character, it seems to me that some of my informants are either prejudiced or mistaken." "Yes," said Hetty. "He is like none of them. Larry is just a plain American who is fearlessly trying to do what he feels is right, though it is costing him a good deal. You see, I met him quite often before the trouble began." Cheyne glanced at her sharply, but Hetty met his gaze. "I don't know," he answered, "that one could say much more of any man." Just then Flora Schuyler and Miss Allonby came in. "Hetty," said the latter, "everybody is waiting for you to sing." In the meanwhile, Allonby and his nephew sat with Torrance and Clavering, and one or two of the older men, in his office room. Clavering had just finished speaking when Allonby answered Torrance's questioning glance.