earing
figure, yielded to my importunity, and possibly to some new curiosity of
his own.

"I'd like to stop that man first," said he. "But what excuse have I? He
may be nothing but a crank, with some crack-brained idea in his
head. We'll soon know; for there's certainly something wrong there on
Broadway."

"He came out of the Clermont," I suggested.

"I know. If the excitement isn't there, what we've just seen is simply a
coincidence." Then, as we retraced our steps to the corner "Whatever
we hear or see, don't say anything about this man. It's after eight,
remember, and we promised Adela that we would be at the house before
nine."

"I'll be quiet."

"Remember."

It was the last word he had time to speak before we found ourselves in
the midst of a crowd of men and women, jostling one another in curiosity
or in the consternation following a quick alarm. All were looking one
way, and, as this was towards the entrance of the Clermont, it was
evident enough to us that the alarm had indeed had its origin in the
very place we had anticipated. I felt my husband's arm press me closer
to his side as we worked our way towards the entrance, and presently
caught a warning sound from his lips as the oaths and confused cries
everywhere surrounding us were broken here and there by articulate words
and we heard:

"Is it murder?"

"The beautiful Miss Challoner!"

"A millionairess in her own right!"

"Killed, they say."

"No, no! suddenly dead; that's all."

"George, what shall we do?" I managed to cry into my husband's ear.

"Get out of this. There is no chance of our reaching that door, and I
can't have you standing round any longer in this icy slush."

"But--but is it right?" I urged, in an importunate whisper. "Should we
go home while he--"

"Hush! My first duty is to you. We will go make our visit; but
to-morrow--"

"I can't wait till to-morrow," I pleaded, wild to satisfy my curiosity
in regard to an event in which I naturally felt a keen personal
interest.

He drew me as near to the edge of the crowd as he could. There were new
murmurs all about us.

"If it's a case of heart-failure, why send for the police?" asked one.

"It is better to have an officer or two here," grumbled another.

"Here comes a cop."

"Well, I'm going to vamoose."

"I'll tell you what I'll do," whispered George, who, for all his bluster
was as curious as myself. "We will try the rear door where there are
fewer persons. Possibl