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"I'll only sain his voice had a note of plea in it "You won't change your mind?" he asked anew

Miss Van Gorder's sreat deal of e it"

Then, having exercised her fee of the last word, she sailed out of the roo, and closed the door behind her

The Doctor seemed a little nettled by her abrupt departure

"It ive me if I say I think it seems more like foolhardy stubbornness!"

Dale turned away froer?"

The Doctor's eyes were grave

"Well--those letters--" he dropped the letter on the table "They e two h shrubbery round the place to hide a dozen assassins--"

If his ree melodramatic, Dale would have found the ominous sentences more easy to discount But this calm, intent statement of fact was a chill touch at her heart And yet-"But what enemies can Aunt Cornelia have?" she asked helplessly

"Anyseriousness He took a cigarette from his case and tapped it on the case to emphasize his words "This is no place for tomen, practically alone"

Dale moved away froave a quick glance around the room Then, unseen by her, he stepped noiselessly over to the table, took the matchbox there off its holder and slipped it into his pocket It seeesture, but his next words evinced that the action had been deliberate

"I don't seem to be able to find anywith the matchbox holder

Dale turned away froet you some," she said with automatic politeness, and departed to search for theo--saw the door close behind her Instantly his face set into tense and wary lines He glanced about--then ran lightly into the alcove and noiselessly unfastened the bolt on the terrace door which he had pretended to fasten after his search of the shrubbery When Dale returned with the matches, he was back where he had been when she had left hiazine on the table

He thanked her urbanely as she offered him the box "So sorry to trouble you--but tobacco is the one drug every Doctor forbids his patients and prescribes for himself"