The Messenger

sion about Miss Greta herself might thus be reached in the only possible way. And the harm done by the Pforzheims knowing? The die was already cast. The

mistaken as to the woman's designs. Such a mistake, besides being intensely disagreeable to any on

Schwarzenberg's stillness, in the midst of the hu

citement, Napier caught himself smiling faintly. H

I had my eye on her," he said to himself. He might as well have said it aloud. She smiled at him across

think-" She stared at the smashed tumbler a

dear, my

I do that? Oh, my! I'

ff instantly-" Gr

"I'll help y

istaken, and hurried off, holding her skirt out in front

How could he dog the steps of a woma

ible, unless he could catch her red-handed. To catch her sending a note to Ernst Pforzheim, what would that prove

t rid of both. The others still argued and speculated. The staggering news was new to them. Curiously, it was already old to Napier, old and grim and implacable. He shoved it wearily aside. While Miss Gret

"I say, day and night for over a week I've heard nothing but war. Talk to me abou

l pleasant in a

llis under the trees at the entrance to the park, and Wildfire

ed at the girl. When she spoke he didn't hear. Napier sat now studying his friend. "Don't say I

never I stray to personal affairs, it's, 'Come and show me on the map whe

telling her where the Germans are in France that

ld see his way clear to detach the girl from

t. She had written to her mother, he said, in extenuation. "Yes, about me. She

hoke. They were of a character to make Sir James Grant incline to choke the speaker. That was the knowledge which opened the door to the fear that clutched at Napier-fear of himself. Fear of the temptation revealed in this growing conviction of his, that if he let Julian drift on the new tide that was sweeping in, it would carry him aw

brand-new doctrine, "you mean that, in spite of feeling sure of her-bless

't let it drift." He knew that what he really meant was t

"But I don't want to marry you," she had said. "I told her," he went on, "that I couldn't believe that. Fortunately for me, for I

!" Napier retu

en I very nearly took hold of her. But all I did was to sit tight and say: 'Which way are you growing, Nan? If I can't find out, I'll have to get

shaken, torn, it was not on the score of his own and Nan's future. It was for the immediate fate of Europe. He swung bac

n to meet them with two t

m left word that you-Yes, London, s

ert's letter, asking for the support of England, had been read in the House with immense effect. "In spite of some labor opposition, they'll vote the credit to-ni

om gave to the family group, when he rejoined it, an air of unreality. And this in spite of the fact th

he war were going to be fought out on sea, the British fleet, of course-But y

e that Germany i

e at all,"

y is a soldier!" Miss Greta's ton

erwent in Napier's mind a sudden and violent transformation. They stripped off their stage tweeds, their check shirts,

re was a gene

ll?" Julian stood

sunset in this Scotland of y

demanded, with a touch of

now. In the coat-room, perhap

" he questioned dubiou

ight. "You mean to say you never noticed? I

all right when I see it." Julia

florid, gilt molding above the wi

orried," sh

worr

he war-nothin

wed under the quick shifting of light and shadow in her eyes. What did she think he had been going to sa

t Jul

nd he aren't engaged, a

you've got

o you enough to ju

was

rapid survey of Julian's

reputable family; he's steady; he was a long time in his last place; sober, very, very sober! But I really don't need any testimonial

are millions o

well, I'

t of a rather ridiculous encounter was to establish the

bustle than usual attendant on his departure. Nan Ellis had rushed over early to say good-by. It struck Napier that she was

ked in a low voice, as thou

T

his possible answer. "I sha'n't do it-not even for you. But if that's what you want

n't that lazy dog Bobby down

hese days," answered Madge

to the hall by the side door.

, opening their newspapers this morning." Sir William was not forgetting to keep an eye on the private case

l ever know what they t

ther remonstrated. "I don't find them at all r

any more. They're

e wh

what's more, the car

ey've gone for good?" Mad

. "Glenfallo

r good. Can they?" Lady Mc

" The answer came a

wed him. He leaned over the slammed door.

night. Bag