doubt. She is in a critical state, I am
told. To rouse her hopes to-night only to dash them again to-morrow
would be cruel policy."

With her eyes still on my face, Mrs. Carew slowly reseated herself.
"Then there are doubts," she faltered; "doubts of its being Gwendolen?"

"There is always doubt," I replied, and openly paused in manifest
non-committal.

"Oh!" she somewhat wildly exclaimed, covering her face with her
hands--beautiful hands covered with jewels--"what suspense! what bitter
and cruel suspense! I feel it almost as much as if it were my Harry!"
was the final cry with which she dropped them again. And she did feel
it. Her features had blanched and her form was shaking. "But you have
not answered my questions as to where this wagon is at present and under
whose care? Can't you see how anxious I must be about that--if it should
prove to be Gwendolen?"

"Mrs. Carew, if I could tell you that, I could tell you more; we shall
both have to wait till to-morrow. Meanwhile, I have a favor to ask. Have
you by any chance the means of entrance to the bungalow? I have a great
and inappeasable desire to see for myself if all the nooks and corners
of that place have given up their secrets. It's an egotistical desire,
no doubt--and may strike you as folly of the rankest--but we detectives
have learned to trust nobody in our investigations, and I shall never be
satisfied till I have looked this whole spot over inch by inch for the
clue which may yet remain there. If there is a clue I must find it."

"Clue?" She was looking at me a little breathlessly. "Clue to what? Then
she wasn't in the wagon; you are still seeking her--"

"Always seeking her," I put in.

"But surely not in the bungalow!" Mrs. Carew's expression was one of
extreme surprise. "What can you find there?"

"I do not know. But I want to look. I can go to the house for a key, but
it is late; and it seems unpardonable to disturb Mrs. Ocumpaugh. Yet I
shall have to do this if you have not a key; for I shall not sleep till
I have satisfied myself that nothing can be discovered on the immediate
scene of Gwendolen's disappearance, to help forward the rescue we both
are so intent upon."

"You are right," was the hesitating reply I received. "I have a key; I
will fetch it and if you do not mind, I will accompany you to the
bungalow."

"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," I replied with my best bow;
white lies come easy in our trade.

"I will not keep you