but you were out. Shall return again about four-thirty.

Trusting to see you,
FOSTER DURGIN.

Without even halting to lock the door as he fled from the place
Garrison hastened pell-mell to the telegraph-office, on the entrance
floor of the building, and filed the following despatch:

JAMES PIKE,
Branchville, N. Y.:

Get Will Barnes on train, headed for my office, soon as possible.

GARRISON.

As he stepped in the elevator to return to his floor, he found Tuttle
in the corner of the car.

CHAPTER XXXI

THE FRET OF WAITING

Tuttle had performed his services fairly well. He reported that young
Robinson had returned to town and had lost no time in dismissing him,
with a promise to pay for services rendered by the end of the week.
Theodore had seemed content with the bald report which Tuttle had made
concerning Garrison's almost total absence from his office, and had
rather appeared to be satisfied to let the case develop for the present.

Tuttle knew nothing of the note on Garrison's desk from Theodore, and
was therefore unaware how his news affected his chief, who wondered yet
again what might be impending.

Concerning Fairfax there was news that was equally disquieting. He had
been here once, apparently quite sane again. He had talked with Tuttle
freely of a big surprise he had in store for the man who had hidden his
wife, and then he had gone to his lodgings, near at hand, departing
almost immediately with a suit-case in his hand and proceeding to the
station, where he had taken a train on a ticket purchased for
Branchville.

Tuttle, uninstructed as to following in a circumstance like this, had
there dropped the trail.

"What seemed to be the nature of the big surprise he had in mind?"
inquired Garrison. "Could you gather anything at all?"

"Nothing more than that. He appeared to be brooding over some sort of
revenge he had in his mind, or something he meant to do, but he was
careful to keep it to himself."

"He said nothing at all of leaving New York?"

"Not a word."

"You are positive he bought a ticket for Branchville?"

"Oh, sure," said Tuttle.

Garrison reflected for a moment. "I rather wish you had followed.
However, he may return. Keep your eye on the place where he was
rooming. Have you noticed anyone else around the office
here--reporters, for instance?"

"No. The story's a sort of a dead one with the papers. Young Robinson
was gone, and you kept out of si