"Why do you ask?"
The question came from the father's lips with a sudden snap, so suddenly, so sharply the boy lost his composure, hung his head, and stammered with an attempt at a smile:
"Oh—naturally curious—I suppose it's a secret?"
"Yes—I wish I could tell you, but I can't"—he paused and spoke with sudden decision:
"Ask Cleo to come here."
CHAPTER XVI
THE CHALLENGE
Norton was morally certain now that the boy was interested in Helen. How far this interest had gone he could only guess.