ou may be sure that no matter what
you may have been doing, I at least shall be glad to see you."

His abrupt, aggressive manner softened, and a pleading note sounded in
his voice as he replied:

"Anyway, you'll try to think, won't you, that I believe, from the
bottom of my heart, that what I am doing and shall do concerning Felix
is for the good of everybody, even for his good, too, extraordinary as
that may seem. That's the most I can say, until the time comes for me
to tell you the whole story. But you shall know it sometime, Penelope.
Good-bye."

CHAPTER XII

DR. ANNISTER HAS DOUBTS

Early in the second week of Brand's absence his secretary had another
call from Hugh Gordon. Henrietta was aware of a little thrill of
pleasure when the office boy brought her his card, and quickly
accounted for it to herself by thinking that perhaps he would have
some news of her employer. But he had nothing to tell her and he made
excuse for coming by asking if Brand had returned or if she had heard
from him.

Henrietta was puzzled by his manner as he made this inquiry. For he
showed no anxiety, and when she replied he received her answer with as
little interest as if he had known beforehand what she would say.

"I hoped you would be able to tell me something about him," she added.

"I do not know where he is," he replied, "but I am positive that you
have no occasion to feel anxious about him. I am quite sure he will
return, perhaps before long. I assure you, if anything should happen
to him, I should know it before any one else."

He spoke with such sincerity that her lingering distrust faded away,
while his abundant physical vigor, manifest alike in his appearance
and his manner, made a strong appeal to her feminine nature. He seemed
so full of energetic purpose, and he looked at her with such a
self-assured, straightforward gaze that she could no longer withhold
the confidence she felt him to be demanding. Nor did the fact that her
woman's instinct, quickly discovering the scarcely concealed
admiration in his eyes and countenance, told her the reason for his
visit lessen her inclination to give him the trust he desired.

"Do you think," she anxiously asked, "that I ought to report Mr.
Brand's disappearance to the police?"

"No," he said with abrupt positiveness, "I do not."

Then he seemed to take second thought and purposely to soften his
manner as he proceeded: "When he returns do you think he would be
ple