mother,
wasn't he?"

"Down at Kensington, but he hasn't been there since Monday," Andrew
replied. "His mother is in a terrible state. And now this, I don't
understand it at all."

"Was the boy hard up?"

"Not more than most young fellows are," was the puzzled reply. "His
allowance was due in a few days, too. He had money in the bank, I feel
sure. He was saving up for a motorcar."

"Haven't I seen him once or twice at restaurants lately?" Francis
enquired. "Soto's, for instance?"

"Very likely," his brother assented. "Why not? He's fond of dancing, and
we none of us ever encouraged him to be a stay-at-home."

"Any particular girl was he interested in?"

"Not that we know of. Like most young fellows of his age, he was rather
keen on young women with some connection with the stage, but I don't
believe there was any one in particular. Reggie was too fond of games to
waste much time that way. He's at the gymnasium three evenings a week."

"I wish I'd been at the office a few minutes earlier this morning,"
Francis observed. "I tell you what, Andrew. I have some pals down at
Scotland Yard, and I'll go down and see them this afternoon. They'll
want a photograph, and to ask a few questions, I dare say, but I
shouldn't talk about the matter too much."

"You're very kind, Francis," his friend replied, "but it isn't so easy
to sit tight. I was going to the police myself this afternoon."

"Take my advice and leave it to me," Francis begged. "I have a
particular pal down at Scotland Yard who I know will be interested, and
I want him to take up the case."

"You haven't any theory, I suppose?" Wilmore asked, a little wistfully.

Francis shook his head.

"Not the ghost of one," he admitted. "The reason I am advising you to
keep as quiet as possible, though, is just this. If you create a lot of
interest in a disappearance, you have to satisfy the public curiosity
when the mystery is solved."

"I see," Wilmore murmured. "All the same, I can't imagine Reggie getting
mixed up in anything discreditable."

"Neither can I, from what I remember of the boy," Francis agreed. "Let
me see, what was he doing in the City?"

"He was with Jameson & Scott, the stockbrokers," Wilmore replied. "He
was only learning the business and he had no responsibilities. Curiously
enough, though, when I went to see Mr. Jameson he pointed out one or two
little matters that Reggie had attended to, which looked as though he
were clearing up, somehow