you seen anything of my little sister?" she asked, "I left
her in that chair five minutes or so ago, and I can't think what has
became of her."

The clerk shook his head.

"I didn't see her," he said, "I was giving out tickets for the up
train. There was a terrific scrimmage between two dogs--no end of a
row. Perhaps your brother or your father came in by the up train and
took the child home. It was enough to frighten anybody to hear the
lady that the little dog belonged to! She was right down screaming for
somebody to rescue her dog."

"It might be that," assented Gertrude. All her bright colour had
departed, she looked pale and anxious, and such an upset of her nicely
laid plans was extremely annoying. Besides, she might be very much
blamed for leaving Maud alone.

"Well! I'm not going to wheel home that empty chair," said she, "you
might keep it for me till to-morrow."

Then she turned to Mrs. Parsons. It was an aggravation of annoyance to
have her as a witness of these _contretemps_.

"Really, Mrs. Parsons!" she said sharply, "I cannot attend to any
business to-night. I must get home and see about Maud. It's very
thoughtless of Conway to take her off without my knowing."

Mrs. Parsons had quite intended to accompany Gertrude to St.
Olave's and see the end of the story, and she was highly offended at
Gertrude's tone.

So she turned homewards alone and she told the story in her own way.

Gertrude's footsteps grew quicker and quicker as she neared St.
Olave's. It seemed to her that a string was being tied round her neck
so tightly that she could scarcely get her breath.

If Conway had taken Maud home, why had he left the wheel chair?

On the doorstep she paused to pull herself together. It was ridiculous
to be so nervous.

She went straight to the dining-room. Her mother and Denys were
sitting peacefully at tea.

"Are father or Conway home?" she asked abruptly.

"No, they expect to be late," answered Mrs. Brougham serenely.

"Have you been up to the station, Denys?"

"No," said Denys, glancing up wonderingly.

"Nor Pattie?"

"No! whatever is the matter, Gertrude?"

"Somebody has taken Maud!"

CHAPTER XVIII.

A BASE TRICK.

Jim Adams could not make out what had changed his wife, but changed
she was.

It might have been a dream that she had threatened vengeance on
Pattie, for she now never mentioned her, and she treated Tom with a
politeness and a thoughtfulness that made Jim belie