"Yes," continued Tod, rising to go. "My mother married Jimmy because she wanted money. You know she's very extravagant, and I'm her chief extravagance. I run up bills and she pays 'em. We've both got the habit. Well, you see, if it wasn't for my debts, she wouldn't have married Jimmy and he probably wouldn't have tried to get his brother's estate. So you see it's all my fault. I'm the black sheep--the others are only dark-brown. But I'm going to do what's right from this out. To begin with, I'm going to turn my new eight-thousand-dollar car over to you." "Why should you do that?" demanded Paula. The young man chuckled as he replied: "I got the cash on a note endorsed by mother, and Jimmy will have to pay it out of your money. It's your money that bought the car--so you take it--but I'll run it for you. It's a dandy. Just romps up the hills. I can squeeze seventy out of it. It's downstairs now. Say, Miss Marsh, come down and take a look at it----" She shook her head. "No--thank you all the same." He looked at her with an injured expression. "I give you my word of honor," he said, "I want to do what is right. Jimmy and mother always regarded Uncle John's money as theirs and I unconsciously fell into line. But I've woke up--I withdraw from the contest. I'm out of it--so we can be good friends--but--take my advice and watch Jimmy and keep your eyes on Cooley. You know Cooley cooks up all sorts of schemes for Jimmy, and Cooley isn't exactly working for charity. I don't like Cooley. He's too sharp. Of course, a lawyer ought to be sharp, but Cooley is almost too deuced sharp--one of these days he'll cut himself." As he made a move towards the door, he said: "You will come, won't you? When shall I say you're coming?" He stopped to hear her answer, but none came. There was an embarrassing silence. Mr. Ricaby, who was walking nervously up and down the room, suddenly turned on the young man, and, looking him squarely in the face, said: "You really wish to do what is right?" "Yes," answered Tod promptly. "Then tell the whole truth," said the lawyer, raising his voice, "how much are you to receive if you succeed in persuading Miss Marsh to accept her uncle's guardianship without protest?" The young man answered the older man's steady gaze unflinchingly. If he was playing the role of a spy certainly his face did not betray it. With perfect sangfroid, he answered: "This is unworthy of you. Yet I don't blame you for suspecting me. It was like this--I told them they didn't know how to handle women----" "And you do?" laughed Paula.