Your friend, Corwin--" "I must insist upon your not calling him MY friend, Richard," interrupted Joan, sharply, "considering that it was through YOUR indiscretion in coming to us for the buggy that night, that he suspected--" She stopped suddenly, for at that moment a startled little shriek, quickly subdued, rang through the garden.

Demorest ran hurriedly down the steps in the direction of the outcry.

Joan followed more cautiously.
At the first turning of the path Dona Rosita almost fell into his arms.
She was breathless and trembling, but broke into a hysterical laugh.
"I have such a fear come to me--I cry out! I think I have seen a man; but it was nothing--nothing! I am a fool.

It is no one here." "But where did you see anything ?" said Joan, coming up.
Rosita flew to her side.

"Where?
Oh, here!--everywhere! Ah, I am a fool!" She was laughing now, albeit there were tears glistening on her lashes when she laid her head on Joan's shoulder.
"It was some fancy--some resemblance you saw in that queer cactus," said Demorest, gently.