"Through the whole building? Past all the people in the hall and
on the stairs? Why, I passed Dan Stewart as I came in."

"If you will allow us?" he said, turning half appealing to Colonel
Pendleton, who, without speaking, made a low bow of assent.

A slight flush rose to her face--the first and only change in the
even healthy color she had shown during the interview.

"I reckon I won't trouble you, boys, if it's all the same to you,"
she said, with her half-strident laugh. "YOU mightn't mind being
seen--but I would-- Good-by."

She held out a hand to each of the men, who remained for an instant
silently holding them. Then she passed out of the door, slipping
on her close black veil as she did so with a half-funereal
suggestion, and they saw her tall, handsome figure fade into the
shadows of the long corridor.

"Paul," said the Mayor, reentering the office and turning to his
secretary, "do you know who that woman is?"

"Yes, sir."

"She's one in a million! And now forget that you have ever seen
her."


CHAPTER I.