“These people have no idea that I am related to Grandfather Gregory. Mr. Wayne Craighill has no idea of it; Mrs. Blair doesn’t know it--she knows me only officially, you might say; she’s on a committee of the Institute that looks out for young women students who have no homes here. It’s strange that I should have fallen in their way; and now I’m here in Colonel Craighill’s house! It wouldn’t do for grandfather to know that--it would make him angry. But grandfather talked to Mr. Wayne about the Sand Creek Company matter just a few days ago. Colonel Craighill wouldn’t see grandfather; he sent word to him that he could do nothing and that he’d better see a lawyer. Mr. Wayne met grandfather leaving the building and took him back to his own office. He was very friendly and offered to help arrange a settlement; but grandfather refused. He’s very indignant at Colonel Craighill and says he’s going to make him settle. It’s because he’s known him a long time--many, many years, I suppose--that he’s so bitter. He says it isn’t the money now--it’s the injustice of it.” The girl had spoken eagerly and she paused now and turned to see if the others were observing them. She concluded in a lower tone: “I don’t know about it; it may not be a just claim. I sometimes think grandfather isn’t sane on the subject; he acts queerly and keeps coming to town to see Colonel Craighill. I went with him to see you in the hope that you might tell him to quit bothering about it. He didn’t understand that, having been with Colonel Craighill so long, you wouldn’t want to discuss his affairs, now that you have left him. And you couldn’t do anything about the claim--of course.” “Um! I couldn’t do anything for your grandfather; that would be bad faith to the Colonel; but--Um!--I might do it for you. That would be different!” He looked at her kindly, enjoying her mystification. “I will tell you this, just as a favour to you and because--because you are not afraid of Wayne Craighill; I’ll tell you that the claim against the Sand Creek property is good in law. Wayne knows it; the Colonel’s lawyer told him so; but the Colonel is so high and mighty that he doesn’t want to pay any attention to it. He’s a great negotiator, the Colonel; he wants to wait until Mr. Gregory gets real hungry, then fix it up with him in a large spirit of generosity--do the noble thing for an old friend in adversity. But this is treason, young woman, right here in the Colonel’s own house. Your grandpa had better take Wayne’s offer. I think we’ll move over there with the others.” He rose in his heavy fashion and Wingfield, who had been waiting his opportunity, sat down beside Jean. Wingfield’s face showed the least annoyance when, a moment later, having seen that Mrs. Craighill and Walsh were taking care of themselves, Wayne drew in beside him.