blurred by the brilliant sunlight behind him, and Mildred, stricken
with disappointment, threw up her hands to cover the tears she could
not control, and sobbing, rushed back up the stairs. Gordon looked
grimly on, his face set and scowling, as if he were gripping deep into
his very soul with an iron determination.

"Come up to the drawing-room," said Mrs. Annister, when Henrietta had
presented her companion and explained their errand, "and I'll send for
Dr. Annister."

Thither also she presently brought Mildred. But the stately air with
which the girl entered the room and the haughty inclination of her
head with which she acknowledged Gordon's greeting told how little
trust she expected to feel in anything he might say.

In answer to Dr. Annister's inquiries Gordon told them, in substance,
what he had already said to Henrietta and gave them, in brief, curt
sentences, that seemed to spring spontaneously out of the force and
simplicity of his character, the same assurances that Brand was in no
danger and that he would return, safe and well, in his own good time.

"That," he added, "is all that I can tell you, because it is all I
know. But I do know that."

"Father!" cried Mildred, springing from her chair, her slender figure
militantly erect, her eyes flashing and her voice thrilling with
indignation. "How can you sit there and listen to this man's talk! Why
don't you throttle him and make him tell all he knows? It's plain
enough that if he knows this much he must know where Felix is and why
he doesn't write to me. But I see through it all! He's got Felix
locked up somewhere, perhaps in some mountain cabin in West Virginia,
or perhaps he's killed him. He ought to be arrested! If you don't care
enough for Felix to have it done I'll telephone for the police at once
and he shall not leave this house until they come!"

Her words poured forth in an angry torrent, and then, with a sobbing
cry, she swept from the room. Dr. Annister leaped to his feet as if to
follow her, then turned with a hand outstretched to his wife.

"You'd better go to her," he said anxiously. "She's hysterical and
must be put to bed. I'll be there presently. I hope you will pardon my
daughter's outburst," he added, turning to Gordon with a little bow.
"She is overwrought from having brooded over this matter much more
than it deserves. I don't share her suspicion of you and you seem to
me to show every mark of a man speaking honestly what he believe