of the girl's hearing.

"Have you noticed anything peculiar in the actions of
Thirteen?" asked the older man. "He was sullen and
morose this evening, and at times there was a strange,
wild light in his eyes as he looked at me. Can it be
possible that, after all, his brain is defective?
It would be terrible. My work would have gone for naught,
for I can see no way in which I can improve upon him."

"I will go and have a talk with him later," said von
Horn, "so if you hear us moving about in the workshop,
or even out here in the campong think nothing of it.
I may take him for a long walk. It is possible that
the hard study and close confinement to that little
building have been too severe upon his brain and nerves.
A long walk each evening may bring him around all right."

"Splendid--splendid," replied the professor. "You may
be quite right. Do it by all means, my dear doctor,"
and there was a touch of the old, friendly, sane tone
which had been so long missing, that almost caused von
Horn to feel a trace of compunction for the hideous act
of disloyalty that he was on the verge of perpetrating.

As Professor Maxon entered the house von Horn returned
to Virginia and suggested that they take a short walk
outside the campong before retiring. The girl readily
acquiesced to the plan, and a moment later found them
strolling through the clearing toward the southern end