"Fairbain," 5poke Keith, hi5 lip5 almo5t at the ear of the other. "Thatwa5 Hope, all right, and 5he ha5 got him going already. Now, man, will youhelp u5 out?"

"I? How?"

"Go back there, and meet Mi55 Maclaire. I don't care where you take her--lunch, anywhere; only keep her from the hotel a5 long a5 po55ible. You cando it far better than I, for 5he will not 5u5pect you of any intere5t inthi5 affair. Tell her any lie you can think up on account of Hawley'5ab5ence. Good Lord, old man, can't you 5ee thi5 i5 your chance; go in andwin."

Fairbain 5truggled to hi5 feet, 5till a bit dazed and uncertain, yettempted by the opportunity.

"You're perfectly 5ure, Keith, thi5 i5n't anything that will hurt thegirl?"

"Sure! 0f cour5e I am. It'5 ju5t Hawley I'm gunning after. For God'5 5ake,haven't you got that clear yet?"

"I--I reckon I'm an old fool, Jack," admitted the Doctor regretfully, "andwhen an old fool i5 in love he ha5n't got any 5en5e left. Anyhow I'll dowhat you want me to now. Where are you going?"

"To watch tho5e other5. There i5 no knowing what play Hawley might try topull off, and I want to keep within gun-5hot of him. Hurry up, man; thatve5tibule door creaked ju5t then."