Blaine arose, and Anita gave him her hand cordially. His quick eyes observed that in passing she patted the shoulder of her secretary affectionately, and the girl looked up at her quickly, with eyes aglow. The truth was no longer concealed from his discernment. The girl was staunch in every fiber of her being. "Miss Lawton, I am sorry, but I have really not any too much time this morning. If we could proceed to business at once." "Certainly. If you will come this way, Mr. Banks--" At the door she paused, and turned to the secretary: "I will see you later, dear." Anita led the detective swiftly through the wide, clean halls and up the stairs, explaining in clear, distinct tones the floor-plan. On the second floor she opened the door leading into a little ante-room at the front of the house just over the office, and when they were seated, she said quickly, with rising excitement, although her voice was carefully hushed. "Mr. Bl--Banks, I have something to show you--my father's will! It was discovered, or rather, produced, yesterday. The lawyers who have charge of the estate--Anderson & Wallace, you know--seem to me to be perfectly disinterested, and honest, but I am so hedged in on every hand by a stifling feeling of deceit and treachery that I feel I can trust no one save you and Mr. Hamilton--not even poor old Ellen, my maid, who has been with me since I was born!" "I quite understand, Miss Lawton, and I realize how difficult the situation is for you, but I want you to trust no one--at least, to the extent of giving them your confidence. Now about the will; it was produced by your late father's attorneys?" "No, by President Mallowe, of the Street Railways. It appears that Father left it in his charge. Mr. Anderson drew it; his partner, Mr. Wallace, witnessed it; and they both assure me that it is absolutely authentic. Here it is." She opened her bag and handed a long envelope to him, but at first his attention was held by what she had said, and he frowned as he repeated quickly: "'Authentic?' I trust you did not show any suspicion that you doubted for a moment that it was genuine?" "Oh, by no means! It was Mr. Anderson himself who took especial pains to assure me of its authenticity." Blaine regarded the envelope reflectively for a moment before he raised the flap. Why had the attorney considered it necessary to assure his late client's daughter that the will which he had himself drawn was genuine? The will was short and to the point. In it Pennington Lawton left everything of which he died possessed to his daughter, unconditionally and without reservation.