in spite of his
suspicions, and striving to curb his excitement, he gave him a brief
explanation of what had occurred.

His account tallied so exactly with the statements of his visitor of the
previous day that Doctor Wesselhoff became more and more interested in
the singular case, and was convinced that his patient was indeed
afflicted with a peculiar monomania.

"Who was this woman?" he inquired, to gain time, while he should consider
what course to pursue with his patient.

"I do not know--she was an utter stranger to me--never saw her before.
She called herself Mrs. Vanderbeck."

That was the name of the "sister" whom Mrs. Walton had told him she would
send with her son, so the celebrated physician had no suspicion of foul
play.

"And who are you?" he asked, searching the fine face before him with
increasing interest.

"My name is Palmer," Ray answered. "I am the son of Amos Palmer, a
jeweler of this city."

Doctor Wesselhoff glanced keenly at him, while he thought that, if he was
mad, there was certainly method in his madness to make him deny his own
name, and claim to be some one else.

The physician had always been a profound student, he was thoroughly in
love with his profession, devoting all his time and energies to it,
consequently he was not posted regarding the jewelers of New York, or,
indeed, business firms of any kind, fore he did not know Amos Palmer--if
indeed there was such a man--from any other dealer in the vanities of the
world.

He firmly believed the young man before him to be a monomaniac of an
unusual type, although he could plainly see that, naturally, he was a
person of no ordinary character and intelligence.

"I regret very much that you should find yourself in such deep trouble,"
he remarked in his calm, dignified manner, "and if you have been decoyed
here in the way you claim, you are certainly the victim of a very clever
plot. Perhaps I can help you, however; just come this way with me. I will
order my carriage, for of course you must act quickly, and we will try
our best to relieve you in this unpleasant predicament."

"Thank you sir; you are very kind to be so interested," returned Ray,
beginning to think the man had also been made a tool to further the
schemes of the thieves, and wholly unsuspicious that he was being led
still farther into the trap laid for his unwary feet. "My first act," he
continued, "will be to go to the superintendent of police, and put the
matter in