Page:Stewart Edward White--The Rose Dawn.djvu/367

Rh those dear ridiculous men have put in some, and nice old Sing Toy and his friends the rest. And you've bought the mortgage."

"Yes; that's it."

"Well, what are you going to do with it?"

"Why, just let it run, I suppose."

"And how about repayment?"

"I don't know. We'll have to fix that up. It will have to wait. I'll see that they are paid back some' day."

"And the Colonel?" suggested Daphne.

"What about him?"

"How are you going to explain to him?"

"Why do we have to explain to him at all?"

"Well, naturally, he is going to know that the mortgage has changed hands; and when he finds it is in your name—why, don't you see?"

"Good Lord! Of course! I am a dumbhead! He'll think this is part of the same old scheme! What can we do about it?"

"I don't know," confessed Daphne, "but it must be thought about."

"I should think so! I wish it hadn't been done in my name—but no, then it couldn't have been done at all. What shall we do, Daffy? Can't you do something? Yes, that's it. You can fix it. See him and reassure him. Tell him anything you want. Will you?"

"I'll think it over," agreed Daphne, slowly. "It will be difficult."

When they returned to the Bungalow it was very late. Townsend Brainerd was still reading by the student lamp. He had it in mind to utter an impatient reproof at young people's remaining out until this hour, but at Daphne's warning gesture and a look at Kenneth's face he closed his book and rose.

"You can lend Ken some night things, can't you, Dad? It's so late I tell him he had better stay with us to-night. He can sleep in the Cubby Hole: it's all made up."

"Surely; I'll get them," said Brainerd, moving his lank form with unwonted alacrity. He was in the current of events, and