erious affair. Reporters vied in
their narratives of exciting coincidences.

Sir Donald and Esther were harassed by all sorts of questions as to the
antecedents of their friends. Between desire to be courteous and
dictates of discretion, they often were much puzzled.

Detectives, each with his own theory, made frequent calls. While polite,
these inquisitors were most persistent in their persecutions. What cared
they for refined scruples? The presence of both missing parties at
Northfield, their conduct while there, and Oswald's stay at the home of
Alice in London were dwelt upon at length. Failing to get full replies
responsive to direct questions, shrewdly phrased opinions delicately
hinting at possible infatuation of one or the other were expressed.

Sir Donald, though much annoyed, could answer with apparent frankness,
yet conceal what he wished not told, but Esther had greater difficulty.
Their inquisitors soon became aware of this. Not desiring notoriety, but
shrinking from apparent concealment, Esther's distress was evident.

At first Sir Donald refrained from further instruction to Esther than
simple suggestion of care in her answers. But this inexperienced girl
was no match for detectives or reporters, who quizzed her mercilessly.

Sir Donald came to the rescue with a vigor most decisive.

One reporter had been offensively persistent. An amateur detective was
pressing Sir Donald with his theory of the case.

"Oswald suggested the night ride, and lured Alice to the rustic seat for
the purpose of murdering the girl. To avoid blame for her betrayal, she
was thrown into the river. His hat was left at the spot as evidence that
he too met death. Oswald fled, and is now somewhere in disguise."

Sir Donald managed to suppress his indignation at the substance and
manner of this statement. Just then the reporter in the next room asked
Esther by direct question what he had been urging by innuendo:

"Was there anything in the conduct of your friends while at Northfield
or in London which indicated that they were unduly familiar?"

Before time for reply, the reporter was lifted through the front door,
landing beyond the porch. No one seeming to appreciate our sleuth's
brilliant theory, he promptly left.

Both Sir Donald and Esther regretted the notoriety likely to result from
this affair, but none of its details were published.

Soon after, there appeared in a London paper this comment:

"It is pretty generally