indicted　next。　No　sir；　I　am　here　without　any　excuse　whatsoever。
  I　am　just　interfering　as　a　friend　of　this　young　lady。〃
  〃Good；〃　commented　Hallowell。　〃I'd　be　sorry　to　have　my　niece
  array　counsel　against　me　　especially　such　distinguished
  counsel。　Sit　down；　Helen。〃
  Miss　Coates　balanced　herself　on　the　edge　of　a　chair　and　spoke　in
  cool；　business…like　tones；　〃Mr。　Hallowell；〃　she　began；　〃I　came。〃
  〃Mr。　Hallowell？〃　objected　her　uncle。
  〃Uncle　Stephen；〃　Miss　Coates　again　began；　〃I　wish　to　be　as　brief
  as　possible。　I　asked　you　to　see　me　today　because　I　hoped　that　by
  talking　things　over　we　might　avoid　lawsuits　and　litigation。〃
  Mr。　Hallowell　nodded　his　approval。　〃Yes；〃　he　said　encouragingly。
  〃I　have　told　Mr。　Winthrop　what　the　trouble　is；〃　Miss　Coates　went
  on；　〃and　he　agrees　with　me　that　I　have　been　very　unjustly
  treated　　〃
  〃By　whom？〃　interrupted　Hallowell。
  〃By　you；〃　said　his　niece。
  〃Wait；　Helen；〃　commanded　the　old　man。　〃Have　you　also　told　Mr。
  Winthrop；〃　he　demanded；　〃that　I　have　made　a　will　in　your　favor？
  That；　were　I　to　die　tonight；　you　would　inherit　ten　millions　of
  dollars？　Is　that　the　injustice　of　which　you　complain？〃
  Judge　Gaylor　gave　an　exclamation　of　pleasure。
  〃Good！〃　he　applauded。　〃Excellent！〃
  Hallowell　turned　indignantly　to　Winthrop。　〃And　did　she　tell　you
  also；〃　he　demanded；　〃that　for　three　years　I　have　urged　her　to
  make　a　home　in　this　house？　That　I　have　offered　her　an　income　as
  large　as　I　would　give　my　own　daughter；　and　that　she　has　refused
  both　offers。　And　what's　more〃　　in　his　excitement　his　voice
  rose　hysterically　　〃by　working　publicly　for　her　living　she　has
  made　me　appear　mean　and　uncharitable；　and　　〃
  〃That's　just　it；〃　interrupted　Miss　Coates。　〃It　isn't　a　question
  of　charity。〃
  〃Will　you　allow　me？〃　said　Winthrop　soothingly。　〃Your　niece
  contends；　sir；〃　he　explained；　〃that　this　money　you　offered　her
  is　not　yours　to　offer。　She　claims　it　belongs　to　her。　That　it's
  what　should　have　been　her　father's　share　of　the　profits　on　the
  Coates…Hallowell　coupling　pin。　But；　as　you　have　willed　your
  niece　so　much　money；　although　half　of　it　is　hers　already；　I
  advised　her　not　to　fight。　Going　to　law　is　an　expensive　business。
  But　she　has　found　out　　and　that's　what　brings　me　uptown　this
  morning　　that　you　intend　to　make　a　new　will；　and　leave　all　her
  money　and　your　own　to　establish　the　Hallowell　Institute。　Now；〃
  Winthrop　continued；　with　a　propitiating　smile；　〃Miss　Coates　also
  would　like　to　be　a　philanthropist；　in　her　own　way；　with　her　own
  money。　And　she　wishes　to　warn　you　that；　unless　you　deliver　up
  what　is　due　her；　she　will　proceed　against　you。〃
  Judge　Gaylor　was　the　first　to　answer。
  〃Mr。　Winthrop；〃　he　said　impressively；　〃I　give　you　my　word；　there
  is　not　one　dollar　due　Miss　Coates；　except　what　Mr。　Hallowell
  pleases　to　give　her。　〃
  Miss　Coates　contradicted　him　sharply。　〃That　is　not　so；〃　she
  said。　She　turned　to　her　uncle；　〃You　and　my　father；〃　she
  declared；　〃agreed　in　writing　you　would　share　the　profits
  always。〃　Mr。　Hallowell　looked　from　his　niece　to　his　lawyer。　The
  lawyer；　eyeing　him　apprehensively；　nodded。　With　the　patient
  voice　of　one　who　tried　to　reason　with　an　unreasonable　child；　Mr。
  Hallowell　began。　〃Helen；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　told　you　many　times
  there　never　was　such　an　agreement。　There　was　a　verbal　　〃
  〃And　I　repeat；　I　saw　it；〃　said　Miss　Coates。
  〃When？〃　asked　Hallowell。
  〃I　saw　it　first　when　I　was　fifteen；〃　answered　the　young　woman
  steadily；　〃and　two　years　later；　before　mother　died；　she　showed
  it　to　me　again。　It　was　with　father's　papers。〃
  〃Miss　Coates；〃　asked　the　Judge；　〃where　is　this　agreement　now？〃
  For　a　moment　Miss　Coates　hesitated。　Her　dislike　for　Gaylor　was
  so　evident　that；　to　make　it　less　apparent；　she　lowered　her　eyes。
  〃My　uncle　should　be　able　to　tell　you；〃　she　said　evenly。　〃He　was
  my　father's　executor。　But；　when　he　returned　my　father's　papers〃
  she　paused　and　then；　although　her　voice　fell　to　almost　a
  whisper；　continued　defiantly；　〃the　agreement　was　not　with　them。〃
  There　was　a　moment's　silence。　To　assure　himself　the　others　had
  heard　as　he　did；　Mr。　Hallowell　glanced　quickly　from　Winthrop　to
  Gaylor。　He　half　rose　from　his　chair　and　leaned　across　the　table。
  〃What！〃　he　demanded。　His　niece　looked　at　him　steadily。
  〃You　heard　what　I　said；〃　she　answered。
  The　old　man　leaned　farther　forward。
  〃So！〃　he　cried；　〃so！　I　am　not　only　doing　you　an　injustice；　but　I
  am　a　thief！　Mr。　Winthrop；〃　he　cried　appealingly；　〃do　you
  appreciate　the　seriousness　of　this？〃
  Winthrop　nodded　cheerfully。　〃It's　certainly　pretty　serious；〃　he
  assented。
  〃It　is　so　serious；〃　cried　Mr。　Hallowell；　〃that　I　welcome　you
  into　this　matter。　Now；　we　will　settle　it　once　and　forever。〃　He
  turned　to　his　niece。　〃I　have　tried　to　be　generous；〃　he　cried；　〃I
  have　tried　to　be　kind；　and　you　insult　me　in　my　own　house。〃　He
  pressed　the　button　that　summoned　the　butler　from　the　floor
  below。　〃Gentlemen；　this　interview　is　at　an　end。　From　now　on　this
  matter　is　in　the　hands　of　my　lawyer。　We　will　settle　this　in　the
  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
  conciliatory　than　his　own。　〃You　cannot　give　it　to　me；〃　she
  answered；　〃because　it　is　not　yours　to　give。〃　As　though　to　add
  impressiveness　to　what　she　was　about　to　say；　or　to　prevent　his
  interrupting　her；　she　raised　her　hand。　So　interested　in　each
  other　were　the　old　man　and　the　girl　that　neither　noticed　the
  appearance　in　the　door　of　Dr。　Rainey　and　the　butler；　who　halted；
  hesitating；　waiting　permission　to　enter。
  〃That　money　belongs　to　me；〃　said　Miss　Coates　slowly；　〃and　as
  sure　as　my　mother　is　in　Heaven　and　her　spirit　is　guiding　me；
  that　money　will　be　given　me。〃
  In　the　pause　that　followed；　a　swift　and　singular　change　came
  over　the　face　of　Mr。　Hallowell。　He　stared　at　his　niece　as　though
  fascinated。　His　lower　lip　dropped　in　awe。　The　look　of　hostility
  gave　way　to　one　of　intense　interest。　His　voice　was　hardly　louder
  than　a　whisper。
  〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　demanded。
  The　girl　looked　at　him；　uncomprehending。　〃What　do　I　mean？〃　she
  repeated。
  〃When　you　said；〃　he　stammered　eagerly；　〃that　the　spirit　of　your
  mother　was　guiding　you；　what　did　you　mean？〃
  In　the　doorway；　Rainey　and　the　butler　started。　Each　threw　the
  other　a　quick　glance　of　concern。
  〃Why；〃　exclaimed　the　girl　impatiently；　〃her　influence；　her
  example；　what　she　taught　me。〃
  〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　the　old　man。　He　leaned　back　with　an　air　almost
  of　disappointment。
  〃When　she　was　alive？〃　he　said。
  〃Of　course；〃　answered　the　girl。
  〃Of　course；〃　repeated　the　uncle。　〃I　thought　you　meant　　〃　He
  looked　suspiciously　at　her　and　shook　his　head。　〃Never　mind；〃　he
  added。　〃Well；〃　he　went　on　cynically；　striving　to　cover　up　the
  embarrassment　of　the　moment；　〃your　mother's　spirit　will　probably
  feel　as　deep　an　interest　in　her　brother　as　in　her　daughter。　We
  shall　see；　we　shall　see　which　of　us　two　she　is　going　to　help。〃
  He　turned　to　Garrett　and　Rainey　in　the　hall。　〃Take　my　niece　to
  the　door；　Garrett；〃　he　directed。
  As　soon　as　Miss　Coates　had　disappeared；　Hallowell　turned　to
  Rainey；　his　face　lit　with　pleased　and　childish　anticipation。
  〃Well；〃　he　whispered　eagerly；　〃is　she　here？〃
  Rainey　nodded　and　glanced　in　the　direction　opposite　to　the　one
  Miss　Coates　had　taken。　〃She's　been　waiting　half　an　hour。　And　the
  Professor　too。〃
  〃Bring　them　at　once；〃　commanded　Mr。　Hallowell　excitedly。　〃And
  then　shut　the　door　　and　　and　tell　the　Judge　I　can't　see　him
  tell　him　I'm　too　tired　to　see　him。　Understand？〃
  Rainey　peered　cautiously　over　the　railing　of　the　stairs　to　the
  first　floor；　and　then　beckoned　to　some　one　who　apparently　was
  waiting　at　the　end　of　the　hall。
  〃Miss　Vera；　sir；〃　he　announced；　〃and　Professor　Vance。〃
  Although　but　lately　established　in　New　York；　the　persons　Dr。
  Rainey　introduced　had　already　made　themselves　comparatively
  well…known。　For　the　last　six　weeks　as　〃headliners〃　at　one　of　the
  vaudeville　theatres；　and　as　entertainers　at　private　houses；
  under　the　firm　name　of　〃The　Vances；〃　they　had　been　giving　an
  exhibition　of　code　and　cipher　signaling。　They　called　it　mind
  reading。　During　the　day；　at