“To an extent at least.”

“Yes, to a very large extent.  Of course, curiosity also played a part, while everybody possesses a sneaking desire to do a detective act.  Miss Coolidge filled you up with a lot of bunk; she was good looking, and you fell for it.  Certain things happened that you failed to understand, so you rather naturally jumped to the conclusion that some crime was being concocted.  That was what brought you here.  Now I take it that, ordinarily, you are a man of some sense.  Consequently I mean to try to get you to drop the whole affair, as being none of your business.  If you agree to this, I accept your pledge, the door opens, and you go free; otherwise—­” he waved his hand expressively.

“Otherwise what?” asked West quietly.

“I will see that you are removed from all temptation; my plans are too important to be interfered with by a meddlesome fool.”

“But you can scarcely expect me to give such a promise?”

“Well, I don’t know about that.  It doesn’t pay to be too obstinate.  You have been in the army, I understand; then you are aware there is a harsh side to life, a way to make or break men.  All right, now I’ve got the power; I can keep you locked up here; I could even kill you if necessary.  You are utterly helpless.  There is an argument worth your consideration.  But I will give you yet another which may have even more weight.”

“What?”

The door opened quietly, and then closed, leaving Natalie Coolidge standing there in the light, her eyes slightly frowning as she looked silently at the two men.

“The lady, of course,” explained Hobart, rising to his feet, “you will, at least, be gentleman enough to accept her word!”

She waited, seemingly unable to quite grasp the situation, or realize the part she was called upon to perform, but as West failed to respond, finally asked a question.

“What is it, Jim?  You sent for me?”

“Yes, as a last resort.  You recognize this man?”

“Of course,” indifferently; “what is he doing here?”

Hobart laughed.

“It seems the fellow hasn’t taken his dismissal very seriously, Natalie,” he explained, “and remains very much interested in your affairs.  That covers the principal known facts in the case.”

“You mean he followed me here?”

“He was on the trail, but just for what particular purpose I have failed to learn; the lad is a bit close mouthed, but it looks to me as though he was in love with you.”

The girl smiled, tossing her head as she stepped forward.

“In love with me,” she echoed.  “That is a joke, yet I had some such suspicion when I told him to quit the job.  He acted like a fool then, and began to question me as though he had a right.  It was that being engaged business most likely.”

“Sure; he thought he had you copped, fortune and all, and it looks to me like he needs another jolt to put the idea entirely out of his head.  That is what I brought you in for.  I’ll explain first just how it happened.  This army guy blew in here before dark, along with another fellow, Sexton, who used to be a servant out at Fairlawn—­you know him?”