a--is an officer in Dalton?"

"A squire," replied Tavia, bewildered now at his knowledge of her and
her family.

"The same. I want to tell you"--he stepped up uncomfortably near to
her so that his sleeve touched her--"I want to tell you there is a
fortune coming to your family, and I can put you on the track to
secure it. My uncle Abe"--he seemed to chuckle--"knew about it, he
told me, and I had to swear on a Bible covered with blood, that I
would never betray his secret!"

"Oh, my!" shuddered Tavia stepping away. "I don't think I can wait
now." She was thoroughly frightened. "Couldn't you come down to the
camp, and tell me? Then we could talk comfortably. The sun is very hot
up here."

"But what I have to say is best said in the open," he answered
vaguely. "I prefer this to all spots on earth." He paused and Tavia's
first impulse was to run, but then----

"I won't ask you to believe me now," he said, his voice softening,
"but if you will come to where I say I can prove my assertion."

"That there is a fortune left to my family? That is too absurd," and
Tavia smiled. "Money does not run in our family."

"Exactly. That is why it has to be run into it--put on the track, so
to speak. Well, I know what I am talking about. But if you are not
interested----"