In this fashion Maurice Trask settled every question that arose. His word was law, and he spoke no unnecessary words. The servants could obey or leave. The housekeeper had been told the same, and the secretary understood it, too. Returning to the library after luncheon, Trask sat at the desk in deep thought. “Got to get the girl,” he told himself. “Plenty to hold over her head—but she’s skittish, that’s plain to be seen. Also, she’s in love with Lockwood. Got to get him out of town. Nothing doing while he’s around. Now, how? Morton hinted of his being deeply in debt. If so, he’s got some past history, guess I can get something on him—got to, whether I can or not. H’m. Wonder if the little girl did do the sticking. Hard to believe it, and yet that kid’s got it in her. She sure has! And she’s a Truesdell all right. Nobody ever had those beetling brows, almost joining above those dark eyes, in that level line—why, if she’s a Truesdell—! Good Lord, I’ve got to marry her! I’ll have to scare her into it! Now, Maurice, my boy, get in some of your finest work.” Clapping on his hat, he started for the Adams house. As luck would have it, he met Anita and his secretary walking toward him. “Playing truant?” he called out gaily to Lockwood. “I’m just on my way to your house,” Gordon returned, coldly. “You too, Miss Mystery?” and Trask gave her a wide smile. “No; I’m going to the post-office.” “Ah, I see. Then, on your way, Lockwood—and I’ll step along with Miss Austin.” There was no good way out of this arrangement, so it obtained, and Trask fell into step with the girl, as Lockwood turned off toward the Waring house. “Now, my dear young lady,” Trask began, unheeding her look of aversion, “you may as well understand me first as last. I’ve got the whip hand—or, as that isn’t a very graceful expression, let us say, I hold the trumps. I know all about you, you see. I know why you went to the doctor’s library that night, and—I know what happened there.” “You don’t,” said Anita, coolly. “You’re bluffing, and I know it.” “No, I’m not bluffing—not entirely, anyway. True, there are some things I don’t know yet, but—I soon will! Don’t think you can keep anything from me! I’m going to take a week for investigation. Also, to give you your chance. If I find out what I fully expect to find out I shall make it all public—how will you like that?” A great fear showed in Anita’s eyes, and she murmured, brokenly: “Don’t—oh, Mr. Trask, don’t!” “Hah! Scared, are you? I thought you’d be! Now, you know my price. You marry me—promise to marry me, that is, and I’ll get you through this thing with bells on. No shadow of suspicion shall remain attached to you—or, to any one you care for.” “I heard you were not going to rest until you learned who killed Doctor Waring,” Anita temporized.