father should
have so much to say about the gay society woman; and turning on his heel,
he moved away, with the purpose of approaching the one whose diamonds had
attracted so much attention. He meant to seek an introduction, and get an
opportunity to examine the stones more closely.

Fifteen minutes later he stood bowing before her, as a friend presented
him, and he was long in recovering from the shock which went through him
as he caught the name by which she was introduced:

"Mrs. Vanderbeck, allow me to present my friend, Mr. Palmer."

"Pardon me. Did I understand the name--Mrs. Vander_beck_?" Ray said,
trying to control the rapid throbbing of his pulses, and putting a slight
emphasis upon the last syllable of the name.

He was sure that the lady started and changed color as he did so, for he
was watching her closely.

"No," she said; "you haven't it quite right; we spell it _h-e-c-k_."

But she seemed strangely ill at ease during the few moments that Ray
stood conversing with her, while from time to time he caught her
regarding him curiously. He did not, however, get any satisfaction
from his examination of her ornaments; for among such a blazing array
of diamonds it was impossible to tell if he had ever seen any of them
before.

"I believe she was connected in some way with that strange affair. She
_may_ be the woman who called upon Doctor Wesselhoff to arrange for my
imprisonment," he said to himself, after he had left her. "At all
events," he added, resolutely, "I am going to lay the matter before
Detective Rider, and see what he thinks about it."

He was more strongly confirmed in his suspicions a few minutes later,
when he saw Mrs. Vanderheck bidding her host and hostess good-night, and
then withdraw from the company.

About ten o'clock supper was served, and, strangely enough, after the
company was seated, Ray found that his left-hand neighbor was no other
than the fascinating Mrs. Montague, while, glancing beyond her, he saw
that his father had acted as her escort to the table.

It annoyed him exceedingly to see them together, and to observe the
gallantry with which his father was attending to the fair widow's wants.

During all the years that had elapsed since the death of his mother, Mr.
Palmer had not manifested the slightest desire for the society of ladies,
and Ray had never thought of such a thing as his marrying again.

But now it suddenly flashed across him: "What if this gay woman of the