the caller's name was a familiar one.

"Why!" exclaimed Serena, "it is--isn't that--"

"It's John!" cried Gertrude. "Why, JOHN!"

Mr. Doane pushed past the butler and entered the hall. His glance took
in the group at the foot of the stairs, but it lingered upon only one
member of it.

"Gertie!" he said, and stepped forward. Captain and Mrs. Dott looked the
other way; Hapgood gave his attention to the closing of the door.

A moment later the young man was ready to shake hands with the less
important inhabitants of the mansion. He did so heartily.

"My!" he exclaimed, "but I'm glad to see you all. It seems a hundred
years since I did see you. How are you?"

Serena answered. Captain Dan, his first surprise over, seemed nervous.

"We're real well," declared Serena. "And it seems awfully good to have
you here. Gertrude and I--"

Gertrude interrupted.

"But, John," she said, "how did you happen to come so unexpectedly? I
didn't know--you didn't write me a word about it."

"I didn't know it, myself. That is, I wasn't sure of it. You know our
junior partner, Mr. Griffin, has been very ill--I wrote you that. He
is very ill even yet, but he is a little better, and so I grabbed the
opportunity. I should have come before, just as soon as--"

He paused. Daniel, in the background, was grimacing and shaking his
head.

"As soon as what, John?" asked Gertrude.

"As soon as--as soon as I could. You're glad I came, aren't you; even if
it was rather sudden?"

"Of course I am. You know it."

Her tone was hearty enough, and yet Mr. Doane seemed to find something
lacking in it. Serena, too, looked quickly at her daughter.

"Of course she's glad," she declared. "So are we all. But what are we
thinking of? Take off your things. Where's your trunk? Have the man
bring it right in."

"There isn't any trunk. There's a bag outside there, that's all. My
visit is likely to be a very short one. If I should have a wire that
Mr. Griffin was worse it might be shorter still. I should have to go
at once. But we won't worry about that. Dinner? No, thank you, I have
dined."

Captain Dan ushered the newcomer into the drawing-room. John exclaimed
at the grandeur of the apartment.

"Whew!" he whistled. "You're fine, aren't you? Gertie wrote me how grand
you were and I have been anxious to see the new house. Gertie--why,
Gertie! what is it?"

Gertrude was standing in the doorway. She looked perplexed and troubled.
John noticed, for the