m see what he could do with that.

A porter came in with a mop and swabbed up the deserted floors.
Donaldson watched every movement of his strong arms and felt sorry,
when, his part played, he retired to the wings. Then he went to his
room. He partly undressed and threw himself upon the bed. It was then
ten minutes of four on Sunday morning, May twenty-sixth.

In spite of his apparent wakefulness he napped, for when he came to
himself again it was broad daylight. An anxious looking hotel clerk
stood at the foot of his bed, while a pop-eyed bell-boy pressed close
behind him. Donaldson rose to his elbow.

"What the devil are you doing in here?" he demanded.

The clerk appeared relieved by the sound of his voice.

"Why, sir, we got a bit worried about you. We weren't able to raise
you all day yesterday."

"Could n't what? I sat up until two o'clock this morning in the lobby.
I was awake in my room here two hours after that!"

"You must be mistaken, sir. We rang your room telephone several times
yesterday, and pounded at your door without getting an answer."

"I was away during the day, but I was here all last night. I asked you
particularly if any call had been received for me."

The clerk smiled tentatively.

"The chamber-maid found you in bed at eleven o'clock in the morning,
sir."

"The chamber-maid must have come into the wrong room," answered
Donaldson, beginning to suspect that he had caught the two men in the
act of thieving. "I was n't in bed at all yesterday, and left the city
at nine o'clock."

The clerk hitched uneasily. It was evident to him that Donaldson had
been drinking, and had the usual morning-after reluctance about
admitting it. The night telephone operator had said that he had acted
queer. However, as long as the man was n't dead this did n't concern
him.

"Sorry the mistake was made, sir," he replied, anxious now to
conciliate the guest. "I would n't have bothered you only the lady
said the call was urgent."

"Good lord, man, what call?"

"It is to ring up Miss Arsdale's house at once, sir."

"When did you get that?" demanded Donaldson, as he sprang from his bed.

"This morning, sir, at one o'clock."

In three strides Donaldson was across the room. The hotel attendants
crowded one another in their efforts to get out.

Donaldson gave the number and waited, every pulse beat of time
throbbing hot through his temples. She had called and been unable to
rouse him, wh