last Sunday," Henrietta hesitated.

"What was it?" the other demanded. "What did he say? Oh, I knew you
were keeping something from me! Tell me, Harry!"

"Truly, dear, it wasn't anything of any consequence. It wasn't about
himself, or his business, so I suppose it's all right for me to tell
you. He only asked me, if any letters should come signed 'Hugh
Gordon,' not to read them but to put them aside for him when he should
return, because this man was likely to write confidentially about his
own affairs. That's all Mr. Brand ever said to me about him--the only
time he's ever mentioned the man's name. But I thought maybe--it was
just my own conjecture, you know--that maybe this Gordon is some
dissipated relative, some black sheep of his family, whom Mr. Brand is
trying to help."

"Oh, I see through it all! It's as plain as day!" cried Mildred
impetuously. "This Gordon is a blackmailer who is trying to force
money from Felix! I knew all the time there wasn't a word of truth in
that disgusting story! Felix has been helping him--perhaps he's a
cousin, or something, and he has demanded more and more money, and
Felix has refused, and now in revenge he has done this! And he's got
Felix shut up somewhere to make him give in! That's why I haven't
heard from him! Oh, it's perfectly plain! The thing to do now is to
find this horrible Hugh Gordon and make him tell where Felix is!"

The office boy entered to say that some reporters wanted to see Mr.
Brand's secretary. Henrietta was about to send back the message that
as she knew nothing whatever of any consequence it was not worth while
for her to see them, when Miss Annister interposed.

"No, Harry, let them come in," she said. "Perhaps they will know
something that we don't."

While the reporters questioned Henrietta they stole many a covert
glance at Mildred Annister, who sat beside her, dignified and
beautiful, her cheeks glowing and eyes brilliant with excitement,
listening with intense interest.

Henrietta soon told them the little that she knew about the matter.
Mildred waited until they had asked all the questions they could think
of and then, leaning forward in her absorption and gazing intently at
one of the group, she said: "Now tell us all that you know about this
Hugh Gordon. I want to know all you can tell me, because I have a
theory about him."

Her intensity and eagerness roused the hope that perhaps here they
might find something with which to embellish a s