courts."

With an exclamation of pleasure that was an acceptance of his
challenge, Miss Coates rose.

"That is satisfactory to me," she said. Winthrop turned to Mr.
Hallowell.

"Could I have a few minutes talk with Judge Gaylor now?" he
asked. "Not as anybody's counsel," he explained; "just as an old
enemy of his?"

"Well, not here," protested the old man querulously. "I'm -- I'm
expecting some friends here. Judge, take Mr. Winthrop to the
drawing room downstairs." He turned to Garrett, who had appeared
in answer to his summons, and told him to bring Dr. Rainey to
the library. The butler left the room and, as Gaylor and
Winthrop followed, the latter asked Miss Coates if he might
expect to see her at the "Office." She told him that she was now
on her way there. Without acknowledging the presence of her
uncle, she had started to follow the others, when Mr. Hallowell
stopped her.

After they were alone, for a moment he sat staring at her, his
eyes filled with dislike and with a suggestion of childish
spite. "I might as well tell you," he began, "that after what
you said this morning, I will never give you a single dollar of
my money."

The tone in which his niece replied to him was no more