"Then they suspect the servant girl?" queried Adam Adams, knowing they
did nothing of the sort.

"No!" came sharply. "They suspect Margaret--Miss Langmore."

"Ah!"

"Yes. It is--is preposterous--absurd, but they insist. And that is
what has brought me to you. I want to prove her innocence to the
world. Do that, and you can name your own price, Mr. Adams."

"You have a high regard for the young lady--you are close friends?"

"More. I may as well tell you, though so far Margaret and I have kept
the matter more or less a secret. I love her and we are engaged to be
married."

"Did Mr. Langmore know of his daughter's engagement?"

"He did, and he approved of it."

"And what of Mrs. Langmore, didn't she approve?"

"She did not know of it. Margaret did not tell her."

"Why not?"

"Because--well, the young lady and her stepmother did not get along
very well together. Margaret wanted to be friendly, but Mrs. Langmore