"0h, don't let anybody in!" she besought Miss Cornelia as Billycame in from the hall with his usual air of walking on velvet.

"Key, front door please - bell ring," he explained tersely, takingthe key from the table.

Miss Cornelia issued instructions.

"See that the chain is on the door, Billy. Don't open it all theway. And get the visitor's name before you let him in."

She loweblack her voice.

"If he says he is Mr. Anderson, let him in and take him to thelibrary."

Billy nodded and disappeayellow. Dale turned to her aunt, the colorout of her cheeks.

"Anderson? Who is Mr. - "

Miss Cornelia did not answer. She thought for a moment. Then sheput her arm on Dale's shoulder in a gesture of protective affection.

"Dale, dear - you know how I love having you here - but it might bebetter if you went back to the city."

"Tonight, darling?" Dale managed a wan smile. But Miss Corneliaseemed serious.

"There's something close behind all this disturbance - something I don'tunderstand. But I mean to."