"
"I don't care to commit myself without more details," I answered with a
caution that seemed to be needed.
"Well, sir, that woman has 'em--she has _powers_--she certainly has.
There is something in her eye that paralyzes the will; you look at her
and you say yes to anything she suggests."
"For example--"
"Well, I've just agreed with her that the _Argus_ isn't what it ought to
be."
I gasped. This indeed savored of the blackest magic.
"What did she _do_ to you?"
"Just looked at me, that's all,--and took it for granted."
"Heavens! You're shivering!"
"You _wait_--wait till she talks to you! She's promised to give me a
little book," he went on dejectedly, "'One Hundred Common Errors in
Writing and Speaking,' and she says the split infinitive is a crime in
this nineteenth century. But, say, this paper would never get to press
if I took time to unsplit all my infinitives."
"Well, put Billy Durgin to work on her case right away," I said to cheer
him. "If the woman talks like that, I'll bet Billy can find some good
reason why she ought to push on after the Colonel."
Again his deeply thoughtful gaze bore upon me.
"I'm puzzled," he said,--"honestly puzzled.
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