Free Partners by Grace Livingston Hill Page A

would Mr. Rand and Mr. Glinden. They are both good men. And if anyone tried to harm you or Noel, we would all rise up and protect you, and you mustn't be afraid anymore. Will you promise me you won't?"
    She looked up from her imprisoned hands and faced him through her tears.
    "Oh, that is good of you, but I couldn't have people put to all that trouble to take care of us! I must do it myself! And I wouldn't want you to tell anybody about my family affairs, please! You promised, you know! I've trusted you!"
    There was a sweet pleading in her eyes, and he was instantly reminded of the boy Noel. Two dear children, they were. His heart was stirred within him. He was filled with a sudden longing to gather up this poor burdened, tired little girl and take her to some quiet lovely homeplace where she wouldn't have to worry anymore. He was startled at his own feelings. He had never felt so about any girl before, not even the girl out in his old hometown whose books he used to carry home from high school, and who used to root for him when he was on the high school football team. But he had sense enough not to show how he was stirred. Of course, it was only pity for her suffering, he told himself.
    So he spoke reassuringly, pressing her hands with a comforting touch.
    "Why, of course not!" he said. "I wouldn't think of mentioning it, unless of course it became a matter of averting some calamity from either Noel or yourself. In that case, I am sure you wouldn't want a little pride to stand in the way of doing everything I could for you both."
    "Of course not!" she said, softly, submissively.
    "But I don't anticipate any such happening," he said quite cheerfully. "However, before we leave this unpleasant subject, so that I shall always be wise enough to help you if needed, suppose you give me the name and address of that uncle. Also the address where you lived when he was with you and your mother was alive. I want her full name and your father's, too. It is just as well I should know those things in case there ever comes a time when I shall need them."
    He got out his pencil and notebook with a businesslike air, and Gillian roused herself to give the needed data. The very act of doing something like her ordinary everyday work in the office seemed to calm her troubled spirits.
    "One thing more," said Reuben as he closed his notebook. "Have you ever communicated with your trust company that was supposed to handle your finances?"
    "No," she said apathetically. "I was afraid to. I thought they might tell my uncle where I was, and then he would come and make me go back and take the job he was getting me and send Noel to an orphanage."
    Reuben was still for a moment, then he asked: "Are you quite sure your uncle always told the truth?"
    "Oh!" said Gillian. "I don't know. I suppose he did. Yet my mother never trusted him. But I didn't dare take any chances."
    "Do you happen to know whether he had any papers giving him the right to handle your mother's money?"
    "Yes, I think once she wrote a note to the bank asking them to give him the money. Perhaps other times. I couldn't be sure."
    "And did he ever give you any after your mother died except that fifty dollars before you came away?"
    Gillian shook her head.
    "No, but he had told me he would have to handle our money for us until I was of age. That was the day after my mother died."
    "And that was how long ago?"
    "Almost two years. I will be of age in December."
    "And you never did anything about it?"
    She looked up surprised.
    "What could I have done? I wouldn't have dared go back there."
    "Suppose you give me the name of that trust company. Can you remember it? And the address? It might be useful sometime. But don't worry. I won't do anything that might reveal your whereabouts to your uncle."
    She gave him the address half-fearfully.
    "But I wish you wouldn't bother about that!" she added pleadingly. "I don't need money now Mr. Rand has sent this nice check. I'm sure he's given me more than the