drink hard and
when not in pool rooms or at the races, betting recklessly on the
horses, squandering such huge sums, and overdrawing his check account
so often that the bank was compelled to ask him to desist, he sat in
the barrooms with his cronies till all hours of the morning when he
would be brought home in a condition of shocking intoxication. Happily
Helen was spared the spectacle of the degradation of a man she once had
loved with all the force of her virgin soul. Roberts, the butler,
aided by the other servants, smuggled their intoxicated master up to
his room, where he remained until sober, when he went back to his club
only to repeat the same performance.

To such a man she could not turn for aid or consolation in the hour of
this new misfortune. Indeed, ever since his return, he had been
strangely indifferent to the welfare of the child, never asking after
her or expressing a desire to see her. At times it seemed as if he had
forgotten that he had a child. By some strange metamorphosis he had
developed into an unnatural father as well as a brutal, indifferent
husband.

But to Helen, alone save for the devoted companionship of her sister,
this was anxiety and suffering enough. Only twenty-four hours had
passed since the child disappeared, but to the unhappy mother it seemed
as many years. Constantly at the telephone, expecting each moment to
hear that the police had been successful in finding the child, she was
gradually wearing herself away to a shadow. Breakfast she left
untouched. Lunch she refused to eat. In vain Ray remonstrated with
her. If she went on like that she would fall ill. But still Helen
refused. Tears choked her, and morning wore into afternoon and still
no news.

After lunch Ray went out to see if Mr. Steell could help them,
promising to return as soon as possible. Helen sat and waited alone.
The clock was just striking two o'clock when the front doorbell rang
and a letter was brought to her. She did not recognize the writing,
but eagerly she tore it open. Instinctively, she felt it concerned her
missing darling. The letter read as follows:

No. -- Lasalle Street, Bronx.
Friday.

Madame:

Your child is safe and in good hands. She wants to see her mother. If
you come this afternoon (Friday) to the above address you can see her.
It is the house with the closed green shutters. But if you value your
child's life you must come unaccompanied, and you must inform no