accused of partiality, that I do not consider their charges as proven, for though Henry has much to answer for--"

"So you see we are very well-known people in the town and have been much in the public eye," interrupted the doctor smoothly.

"Not so well-known as you might be," said Burton, catching wildly at the first conversational straw he could think of, in his eagerness to second the doctor's obvious effort to put a stop to his wife's disconcerting admissions. "I asked a man who was talking to Mrs. Bussey at your back gate if this was your house, and he didn't even know your name."

"That is as gratifying as it is surprising," the doctor responded, also marking time. "I wonder who the ignorant individual could be."

At that moment Mrs. Bussey entered the room, with her tray, and to keep the ball going he turned to question her. "Who was it you were talking to at the back gate this afternoon, Mrs. Bussey?"

"Wasn't nobody," said Mrs. Bussey, with startled promptness.

"A man. Didn't know my name. Was he a stranger?"

"Didn't talk to nobody," she repeated doggedly, without looking up. "Who says I was talking to a strange man?"

"It doesn't matter," said the doctor, with a surprised glance. "He was evidently unknown as well as unknowing, Mr. Burton,--or at any rate we keep peace in the family by assuming that he was non-existent. There are things into which it is not wise to inquire too closely. Now I believe that I'll have to ask for help in getting back into the surgery."

Burton waited just long enough to assure himself that Henry was not going to his father's assistance, then offered his own arm. At the same moment he caught a slight but imperative sign from Mrs. Underwood to her son. In silent response to it, Henry came forward to support his father upon the other side. As soon as they got Dr. Underwood again into the surgery, Henry withdrew without a word. Burton felt that there was something wistful in the look which the doctor turned toward his son's retreating form. But he was saved from the embarrassment of recognizing the situation, for immediately Mrs. Bussey flung open the door without the formality of tapping and burst into the room.

"There's men a-coming," she exclaimed breathlessly.

"What's that? What d'ye mean?" demanded Dr. Underwood, startled and 

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