egarding Uncle Benny which made her
and her father believe that Alan was searching for his father upon the
lakes. Now these articles which had arrived made plain to her that he
would never find Uncle Benny; he would learn, through others or through
themselves, that Uncle Benny was dead. Would he believe then that
there was no longer any chance of learning what his father had done?
Would he remain away because of that, not letting her see or hear from
him again?

She went back and picked up the wedding ring.

The thought which had come to her that this was Alan's mother's wedding
ring, had fastened itself upon her with a sense of certainty. It
defended that unknown mother; it freed her, at least, from the stigma
which Constance's own mother had been so ready to cast. Constance
could not yet begin to place Uncle Benny in relation to that ring; but
she was beginning to be able to think of Alan and his mother. She held
the little band of gold very tenderly in her hand; she was glad that,
as the accusation against his mother had come through her people, she
could tell him soon of this. She could not send the ring to him, not
knowing where he was; that was too much risk. But she could ask him to
come to her; this gave that right.

She sat thoughtful for several minutes, the ring clasped warmly in her
hand; then she went to her desk and wrote:

Mr. John Welton,
Blue Rapids, Kansas.

Dear Mr. Welton:

It is possible that Alan Conrad has mentioned me--or at least told you
of my father--in connection with his stay in Chicago. After Alan left
Chicago, my father wrote, twice to his Blue Rapids address, but
evidently he had instructed the postmaster there to forward his mail
and had not made any change in those instructions, for the letters were
returned to Alan's address and in that way came back to us. We did not
like to press inquiries further than that, as of course he could have
communicated with us if he had not felt that there was some reason for
not doing so. Now, however, something of such supreme importance to
him has come to us that it is necessary for us to get word to him at
once. If you can tell me any address at which he can be reached by
telegraph or mail--or where a messenger can find him--it will oblige us
very much and will be to his interest.

She hesitated, about to sign it; then, impulsively, she added:

I trust you know that we have Alan's interest at heart and that you can
safely