"What has gone wrong? Why this face of tragedy?" she inquired, as
she seated herself beside him.

"I've received my Declaration of Independence. I've heard from my
dad."

A look of quick understanding drove away the smile she had brought
him, and her manner was one of grave sympathy as she took the
letter he handed her.

She was clad in a crisp morning gown he had never seen, and he
thought it became her extremely well. She looked very cool, very
fresh, very much the fine lady. All in all, she seemed a person
whose friendly interest might compensate for many woes.

"Well!" she remarked. "You do seem to be in trouble. What does it
mean?"

Kirk told her everything without reserve, then showed her the
newspapers in his hand. She scrutinized them with a quiet
seriousness that seemed to make his trouble her own. "After all,"
she said at last, "if worse comes to worst, you can prove your
innocence."

"I'm not so sure."

"Nonsense! Those boys can be found. What puzzles me is that Locke
person. Who is he? Why was he followed? What has become of him?"

"I wish I knew."