第7章

"I only knew Jimmie superficially," she said, "but he had one distinguishing trait patent to all, his inordinate fondness for practical jokes.Probably the predicament he found himself in was highly to his taste - until his heart failed."Her voice, slightly raised, carried across the room and reached the ears of a tall, slender girl who had stood hesitating on the threshold of the dining worn door on beholding the group by the sofa.All hesitation vanished, however, as the meaning of Mrs.

Brewster's remark dawned on her, and she walked over to the sofa.

"You are very unjust, Margaret," she stated, and at sound of her low triante voice McIntyre whirled around and frowned slightly.

"Jimmie was thinking of the predicament of others, not of himself.""What do you mean, Helen?" her father demanded.

"Why, how could Jimmie reveal his identity in court without involving us?" she asked."Good afternoon, doctor," recollecting her manners, and her attention thus diverted, she missed the sudden questioning look which Mrs.Brewster and her father exchanged."No,"she continued, "Jimmie sacrificed himself for others.""By becoming a burglar." McIntyre laughed shortly."Don't talk arrant nonsense, Helen."The girl flushed at his tone, and Dr.Stone, an interested onlooker, marveled at the fleeting flash of disdain which lighted her dark eyes.Stone's interest grew.The McIntyre family had always been particularly congenial, and the devotion of Colonel McIntyre (left a widower when the twins were in short frocks) to his daughters had been commented on frequently by their wide circle of friends in Washington and by acquaintances made in their travels abroad.

Colonel McIntyre had married when quite a young man.Frugality and industry and a brilliant mind had reaped their reward, and, wiser than the majority of Americans, he retired early from business and devoted himself to a life of leisure and the education of his daughters.Their debut the previous autumn had been one of the social events of the Washington season, and the instant popularity the girls had attained proved a source of pride to Colonel McIntyre.

His chief pleasure consisted in gratifying their every whim, and Dr.Stone, knowing the family as he did, wondered at the faintly discernible air of constraint in the girl's manner.Usually frank to a sometimes embarrassing degree, she appeared to some disadvantage as she sat gazing moodily at the tips of her patent-leather pumps.

Dr.Stone's attention shifted to Colonel McIntyre and lastly to the pretty widow at his elbow.Had Dame Rumor spoken truly in the report, widely circulated, that the colonel had fallen a victim to the charms of Margaret Brewster, his daughters' guest? If so, it might account for the young girl's manner - however devoted McIntyre's daughters might be to Mrs.Brewster as a friend and companion, they might resent having so young a woman for their step-mother.

Not receiving any reply to his remarks, McIntyre was about to address his daughter again when she spoke.