"But do you promise?" The blue eyes began to dry and to sparkle again. 

 "Well, yes, of course. I promise." 

 She left the room; and the various shades of dignity, sarcasm, and boredom gradually vanished from the young man's countenance. He smiled and shrugged his big shoulders with the gesture of a ten-year-old schoolboy, and moving over to a hoary mirror with a freckled gilt frame, he executed a brief and silent clog before it. 

 "I'm not so bad," he commented to his reflection. "Nat isn't the only star in the profession." 

 

 CHAPTER V 

 JUDGE TRENT'S STUDY 

 Dunham took care not to see Miss Lacey again until their train was nearing its destination. Then as he approached the seat where she gazed out the car window he observed that her eyes bore traces of tears. 

 She gave a nervous start as she recognized him. 

 "Oh, there you are. I've been afraid you missed the train. I'm very glad you've come, for I'm going straight to Judge Trent's office with you, Mr. Dunham." 

 "Oh, are you?" responded the young man dubiously. He seemed to see his employer's warning glance. "I rather think Judge Trent will have gone home. It's pretty late." 

 "Very well," returned Miss Lacey decisively, "then we go on to his house. This is no time to stand on ceremony. Every moment counts." 

 Whatever was in her mind her companion saw that she had worked herself to a pitch of excitement which made a railroad train no fitting environment for its expression; and to avoid further conversation he moved to the door and stood looking through the glass, meditating upon the approaching interview. 

 The station reached, Miss Lacey waited while Dunham telephoned to the office. There was no reply. 

 "The judge has evidently gone home," he said, returning to anxious Miss Martha. 

 "Then, as I told you," she answered, with firmness, "I am going to his house." 

 She had turned this 

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