Brother and sister were to each other what the whole world might
be to others. Paul had kept up well under the strain of the
hold-up, but when suspicion was pointed at him he collapsed.

Who could be at the back of the defaming scheme to spread the
report? Who could have dared to say that he was in league with
whoever took those papers from the mailbag?

"Are you better, Paul?" murmured the girl. "You had a lovely
sleep."

"Oh, yes," he sighed. "I feel almost good. If only my head would
stop throbbing. What time is it?"

"Almost noon, dear, and Clip will soon be here."

"Will she fetch the morning papers? I must see how the thing is
going on. They were to go to court this morning."

"Now you must not think of that, you know, Paul," commanded the
girl gently. "If you are to grow strong enough to go and take
your own part you will have to leave the others alone. There is
nothing new, or I should have told you."

"But Mr. Robinson called - I heard you talking to him last night."

"Yes, you did, dear. But he came to inquire for you. He is very
anxious about you."

Hazel Hastings went to the dresser and slipped under the cover a