has made life wretched for every one in the Heights, and--all for five
dollars, Mrs. Sater. Can you resist it?"

Carol's voice took on a new ring as she saw the shadow leave David's
eyes, and his lips curve into laughter again.

"Well, I swan, Mrs. Duke, if you don't beat all. Yes, I'll take that
chair. It may not be worth five dollars, but you are."

Carol ostentatiously collected the five dollars, doubled it carefully
into a tiny bit, and tied it in the corner of her handkerchief.

"My money, Mr. David Arnold Duke, and I shall buy candy and talcum with
it."

Then she ran into the adjoining room to answer the telephone.

Mrs. Sater looked about her hesitatingly and leaned forward.

"David," she said in a low voice, "Carol ought to go home to her
father. It's dangerous for her to stay with you. Everybody says so.
Make her go home until you are well. She may get it too if she goes
along. They'll take good care of you at the Presbyterian hospital out
there, you a minister and all."

The laughter, the light, left David's face at the first word.

"I know it," he said in a heavy voice. "I have told her to go home.
But she won't even talk it over. She gets angry if I mention it.
Every one tells me it is dangerous,--but Carol won't listen."