ppointment, and if the stranger fail to appear, take decisive steps. He
has seen Alice Webster, and would swear to her identity. This pair shall
be traced, and the facts be given publicity. He will write to Oswald
Langdon that Alice is surely alive. He sends Charles to detective
offices with advices for the shadowing of these runaways.

He makes the appointed call. The other is there, receiving him
courteously. His presence mystifies Sir Donald. It is impossible that
this man could have gone out and returned.

The stranger opens with the remark:

"I talked the matter over with the girl, and she is undecided."

Sir Donald responds, "About what?"

"She does not understand what you mean by your references to some one
who may be suspected of murder and to some loved one whose happiness
might be promoted by disclosures."

Sir Donald replies:

"These are matters I will not discuss further."

The man irritably responds:

"Then we decline to talk any more upon the subject. You are welcome to
your delusion."

Here Sir Donald grows indignant.

"Alice Webster is alive and subject to your control. Through your advice
she has left this house, intending to evade discovery. You are both
watched. I know facts which would overjoy Alice. I may not confide them
to either until her identity is confessed and her conduct explained. I
have no desire to reveal a single fact about her escape from the Thames
or her strange concealment, until she can be protected. I doubt not
Alice feels regrets for the past. It is positively known that she had
nothing to do with the assault upon Oswald Langdon. An eye-witness to
this crime saw Alice and Oswald both fall into the river. Fully confide
in me, and I will aid you in recovery of the big estate taken from Alice
by Pierre Lanier. Do this without explicit pledges of any kind. I make
no promises."

The stranger hesitates.

"If we are to tell you all, why do you refuse us your confidence?"

Sir Donald replies:

"When the existence of Alice Webster is clearly proven, and her strange
disappearance accounted for, I will explain what you ask."

There is a long pause. The stranger looks into Sir Donald's face
fixedly, then grasping his hand, says:

"I will trust you implicitly. We will now find my niece."

The two pass out, down the stairs, and upon the street. The stranger
beckons to a cabman. In about half an hour they stop in front of an inn.
Giving the driver instructions, the strange