Her first master was Qualls Tolliver.

"My name is Ruth Tolliver.

" "Listen to me, Ruth Tolliver: If you was to live a thousand years, and the gent with the smile was to keep going for two thousand, it'd never come about that he could ever marry you.

He ran to the door, thinking of Ruth Tolliver at once, and then he shrank back again, for a door was slammed open, and a voice shoutedthe voice of a man: "Help!

"You think he was an amateur robber and an expert prize fighter?" asked Ruth Tolliver.

" "John" began Ruth Tolliver, her voice shaking.

Ruth Tolliver did not cry out, but every muscle in her face and body seemed to contract, as if she were preparing herself for the explosion.

"Tell Miss Smith that she's wanted in Miss Tolliver's room," said Mark, and, when the servant disappeared, he began pacing up and down the room.

Ruth Tolliver glanced apprehensively at John Mark and then flushed, but she raised her head bravely.

" Caroline Smith nodded, flung one frightened and appealing glance to Ruth Tolliver for direction, then hurried out to her room to dress.

He was watching Ruth Tolliver, as she stared down at her hand.

In the home of John Mark, that calm leader was still with Ruth Tolliver.

She had always been a favored member of the gang, and the men had whistled attendance on her hardly less than upon Ruth Tolliver herself.

It came in the form of a brief rustling of silk, like the stir of wind, and then Ruth Tolliver's coppery hair and green-blue eyes were before himRuth Tolliver in an evening gown and wonderful to look at.

It came in the form of a brief rustling of silk, like the stir of wind, and then Ruth Tolliver's coppery hair and green-blue eyes were before himRuth Tolliver in an evening gown and wonderful to look at.

He himself staggered after, and before him stood Ruth Tolliver!

Ruth Tolliver, hooded in an evening cloak, but with the light gleaming in her coppery hair, was shaking him by the arm and leaning a white face close to him.

Now he acted as gracefully as if he had been the father of Ruth Tolliver.

Will you let me come back?" "Never, never!" declared Ruth Tolliver.

Ruth Tolliver, knowing his genius for the cards, knowing his cold and unscrupulous soul, detested him heartily.

I have only to hand you the bank book with the list of deposits, and you can step out of this Tolliver personality and appear in a new part of the world as another being.

Though Mark had ordered the girl to be confined to her room until further commands were given on the subject, no one in the house would think of questioning Ruth Tolliver, if she took the girl downstairs to the street and told her to go on her way.

"Afterward, when you think over what he has said, it isn't a great deal, but at the moment he seems to know a great dealabout what's going on inside one, don't you think, Caroline?" These continual appeals for advice, appeals from the infallible Ruth Tolliver, set the heart of Caroline beating.

"Yes," answered Ruth Tolliver, "of course he is.

What of Ruth Tolliver?