Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/199



TELLA had piled on the big oblong oak table in the library the letters and legal documents relating to her father's estate.

She had determined to treat John Graham's first visit as a purely business one, and make her approach to him by the more subtle way of dependence on his help and advice.

She wore on purpose the same simple green dimity dress in which she had called at his office. Each step in her plans must be taken with the utmost care. He had masked his feelings with an iron will and she could as yet form no conception of the impression she had made.

Seated beside the table, idly turning the papers, she awaited his coming to-night with the keenest interest, every faculty of her being keyed to the highest pitch of power.

A letter from Ackerman had aroused anew her curiosity over every detail of the murder of her father and had given her a definite purpose toward which to work during John's visit. She