one of
the contents of this letter, not even the members of your family. If
you disobey, swift punishment will follow and your child will suffer.
Climb eight flights and knock three times on door at end of
passage.----X.

There was no signature. The person who wrote it evidently had reasons
of his own for wishing to remain concealed. That money would be
demanded was more than probable. What other motive could the kidnapper
have? Money she would give--all she had in the world, if only she
could get back her precious child. That a visit to such a place
unattended was full of danger she did not stop to consider. She only
knew that her child was close by--here in New York--and had asked for
her. Not for a moment did she listen to the warnings of prudence. Go
she must, and immediately. She did not even stop to leave a note of
explanation for Ray. Stuffing some money in a bag, she left the house,
saying she would return soon.

Taking the Third Avenue "L" she left the train at Tremont Avenue, and,
after considerable difficulty, found the house indicated in the letter.
Yes, there were the closed green shutters. At first, on seeing it
apparently untenanted, she thought she must have made a mistake in the
number, but, finding that there was no other place near by that
answered the description as well, she decided to risk climbing the long
flight of stairs.

Arrived on the top floor, breathless from the unusual exertion, she saw
a long narrow passage, and, at the end of that, a door. That, no
doubt, was the place. Her heart beating violently, she went up to the
door and gave the three knocks. For a moment or so there was no
answer. A profound stillness reigned. Then she heard footsteps
approaching, The next instant, the door was thrown open and a man's
voice, which sounded somewhat familiar, told her to enter.

At first when she went in, she could see nothing. All the shutters of
the windows looking on the street were closed, and the only light was
that which filtered through the slats. It was an ordinary, cheap flat,
with no carpets on the floors and little or no furniture. On the
floor, scattered here and there, were nailed-up boxes, and parts of
machinery, some already crated, as if to be taken away.

"So you've come! I thought you would," said a voice behind her.

She turned and found herself face to face with Signor Keralio.

At first she was so astonished that she was speechless. Then her
in