on. Her impatience to learn the truth received its first
check with the indifferent assurance of the clerk that Mr. Anderson, the
man in charge of the department of accounts, was busy upstairs.

"Then I'll wait for him." With a sigh of resignation she sat down on the
oak seat just outside the office window to wait.

It was twenty minutes past four when Mr. Anderson appeared.

"I can't let you know about this at once," was the accountant's
discouraging response when Grace laid the matter before him. "We'll take
it up with the saleswoman, then write you."

"Very well. I shall expect to hear from you within the next three days."
Grace turned away, far from satisfied. Yet there was nothing else to do.
Long since she had learned that the system employe of a department store
is a law unto himself, and as unchangeable in his methods as the most
stubborn Mede or Persian ever dreamed of being.

And now for her interview with Evelyn. How could she best approach the
girl whom she suspected of having first shamefully betrayed her sister's
confidence, then purposely misrepresented matters to her? And what had
Evelyn done with the money? These and similar painful questions occupied
her thoughts so fully that she did not realize that she had reached
Harlowe House until she found herself ascending the front steps.

Without giving herself time to consider delaying the disagreeable
interview, Grace hurried up the stairs. To her surprise Evelyn's door
stood partially open. She peered into the room, but it was empty of an
occupant. Stepping inside she glanced about her. Evelyn's hat was gone.
She had come in from her classes and gone out again.

Grace went slowly downstairs. She was sorry that she had not been able
to have her talk with Evelyn before the others came in from their day's
recitations. She decided to wait until after dinner. When Evelyn went to
her room she would follow her there. The longer she delayed facing
Evelyn with her sister's letter the harder the task would become. But at
dinner time Evelyn's place was vacant.

At ten o'clock that night she had not come in.

Becoming alarmed Grace telephoned to Althea Parker to know if Evelyn
were with her. In reply to her anxious inquiry Althea declared she had
not seen Evelyn for two days. Uncertain as to the wisest course to
pursue Grace concluded to wait until Emma came in from an evening's
visit with Patience Eliot.

It was almost eleven o'clock when Emma returned.