tandish might want of her,
but she was very sure that she didn't mean to invite displeasure by
seeming careless of the lady's whims.

Consequently it was surprisingly soon that she stood, refreshed and
comfortable in white linen, tapping at the door that Emmy, the maid,
had designated.

Another maid, less prepossessing, admitted her to the
dressing-room of the woman of fashion; and this last greeted Sally
with a fretful, preoccupied frown, visible in the mirror, which
reflected as well the excellent results obtainable from discreet
employment of a high-keyed palette.

"Oh, it's you!" said Mrs. Standish shortly. "I was hoping you wouldn't
be forever. Though you do look well in those duds. I've something
quite important to say. You may go now, Ellen; I sha'n't want you
again until evening."

With a scowl Ellen made off, an effort of masterly self-restraint
alone enabling her to refrain from slamming the door.

"A most ridiculous thing has happened," Mrs. Standish pursued,
delicately lining in her devastating eyebrows--"most annoying!" She
jerked an impatient thumb at a telegram that lay open on the
dressing-table. "Read that. It was waiting our arrival."

Sally obeyed with an opening wonder that swiftly gave place to panic
consternation.

House entered by burglars last night discovered this morning forced
entrance by scuttle extent of loss unknown but desk broken open safe
cleaned out dining-room silver gone some clothing dresses missing
one of gang evidently woman garments left in bath-room name
indelible ink faded but apparently manners or manvers police
notified detectives on case advise return please wire
instructions-Riggs.

"Now don't have hysterics!" Mrs. Standish snapped as Sally, with a low
cry of dismay, sank stunned into a chair. "There's nothing for you to
fret about--you're all right, here, with me, under my protection.
Nobody's going to look for you here; but think how fortunate it was I
had the wit to change your name. No, it's I who have to worry!"

"But I don't understand," the girl stammered. "Of course there must be
some mistake; you haven't really lost anything--"

"Oh, haven't I? I wish I could believe that. Don't you see what the
telegram says--'safe cleaned out, dining-room silver gone'? That
sounds suspiciously like a loss to me. Walter didn't 'clean out' the
safe, and of course he didn't touch the silver. On the contrary, he's
positive he shut the safe and fixed t