"Will is back!" she exclaimed on seeing me, and her tone scarcely concealed a meaning beyond her words. "What's that? He didn't send me word that he was coming." "May telephoned--he's just got in." Something unexpected must have brought him suddenly all the way from Texas, where he was looking after our interests. The news was disturbing. "I saw Jane Dround this afternoon," I remarked idly. "She's looking fine--never saw her better." "Jane!" my wife said slowly. "So she's back once more." Then after a pause she exclaimed:-- "I don't like her!" Sarah, who rarely said a bitter word about any one, spoke this harshly, and I looked at her in surprise. "I don't trust that woman, Van! She is secret. And I believe she influenced you--that time about the judge." It was the first time for months that Sarah had referred to this matter. "I'll go and ring up May," I said, not caring to refute this wild accusation, "and ask them to come over to-night." "I asked them for dinner, but she wouldn't come," Sarah remarked gloomily. "No one wants to come here but people like the Webbs and Coopers--people who think they can make something out of your schemes." "Oh, I guess they aren't the only ones who are willing to come. And what's the matter with the Webbs and the Coopers? If the rest of your friends don't like us, we can get along without their society. I guess New York will stand us, and that's where we shall be before many years, if all goes well. This place is only a gossipy old village." "I don't want to go to New York!" Sarah wailed. * * * * * When I had May at the telephone, she answered my invitation in a dry little voice:-- "Yes, we are coming over to see you about a matter. Will has something important to say to you." By the tone of May's voice I judged that we should have a rather lively family party, and I was not mistaken. Sarah was still lying on the lounge in my study when Will and May came in after dinner. There was battle in May's eyes and in her tight-shut lips. It had been a long time since she had come to the house when I was at home. And to-night Will, too, was looking very pale and troubled. [Illustration: "_Couldn't you find any one else to do your dirty work but your own brother?_"] "May," I said, "you look as if you had a gun trained on me. Fire away, only make it something new. I am tired of that old matter about the judge. 'Most everybody has forgotten all about that except you and Sarah." "It's something new, fast enough, Van; but it isn't any better," she retorted. "Couldn't you find any one else to do your dirty work but your own brother?" "What's the matter now?" "Show him the article, Will." Will unbuttoned his coat and reached for his inner pocket. From it he hauled out a bulky newspaper, which he handed me. It was a copy of the Sunday _Texas World_, and a front page article was heavily pencilled.