"What's the use of trying to fool me, Jim? If they haven't been after you, you are sensing a presage of evil. I'm not a child any longer. Haven't I been through enough to make me a woman? Sometimes I feel very old." "To me you are the most charming in all this wide world. No, you're not a child any longer. You are a woman, brave and patient; and I know that I could trust you with any secret I have or own. But sometimes a person may have a secret which is not his and which he hasn't any right to disclose." She became silent for a while. "I hate money," she said. "I hate it, hate it!" "It's mighty comfortable to have it around sometimes," he countered. "As in my case, for instance. If I were poor and had to work no one would bother me." "I would!" he declared, laughing. "Come; let's throw off moods and go into town for tea at the Rose Garden; and if you feel strong enough we'll trip the light fantastic." They had been gone from the house less than an hour when a man ran up the steps of the veranda and rang the bell. Jones being busy at the rear of the house, the maid came to the door. "Is Miss Hargreave in?" the stranger asked. "No," abruptly. The door began to close ever so slowly "Do you know where I can find her?" The maid eyed him with covert keenness; then, remembering that the reporter was with Florence, said: "I believe she is at the Rose Garden this afternoon." "That is in town?" "Yes." "Thanks." The man turned abruptly and ran down the steps. The maid ran back to Jones. "Why didn't you call me?" he demanded impatiently. "There wasn't time." "Did you tell him where she was?" "Yes. But I shouldn't have told him if Mr. Norton had not been with Miss Florence." Jones ran to the front, dashed out, eyed the back of the man hastening down the street, smiled, and returned to his work, or, rather, to the maid. He took her by the shoulder, whirled her about, and shot a look into her eyes that quailed her. "Always call me hereafter, no matter what I'm doing. That man has never laid eyes on Florence and has no idea what she looks like. Why did you drug my coffee the night of that ball?" She stepped back. "And how much did they pay you for letting that doctor send Florence to Atlantic City? I know everything. Hereafter, walk straight. If you play another trick I'll kill you with these two hands. And listen and tell this to your confederates: I always know every move they make; that is why no one is missing from this house. There is a traitor. Let them find him if they can. Will you walk straight, or will you leave?" "I--I will walk straight," she faltered. "The money was too big a temptation." "Did they give it to you?" "Yes. And more to stay here. But this is the first bit of dishonest work I ever did."