. Five days before
Christmas he had his trunk and certain things sent down-town, and
wrote me a note telling of the apartment he'd taken. I've been to
see him several times, but he's never in and, I'm told, hasn't been
in now for over a week. I've written him, made every inquiry likely
to lead to information without exciting undue suspicion, and now,
unless I go to the police--" Biting the ends of his close-cut
mustache, Selwyn stopped abruptly.

"Does Mrs. Swink know he has left home?"

"If she doesn't, she'll know it to-morrow when she gets my answer to
this." Taking a letter from his pocket, Selwyn threw it on the table
behind me. "Later you can read that, if you've time to waste. I got
it to-day. Harrie hasn't been to see Madeleine for over a week.
Mrs. Swink wants to know why. Wants to know where he is. So do I."

"Didn't he dine with Mildred on Christmas day? I thought both of you
were always there at Christmas."

"We are. When Mildred's Christmas dinner is over I thank God there
will be three hundred and sixty-five days before she can have another
one. Harrie was all right when he came in, but he took too much
egg-nog, too much of other things Mildred had no business having, I
tried to make him go home with me, but he wouldn't do it. Then I
tried to go with him and he wouldn't let me do that either. Said he
had an engagement with Miss Swink. He was not in a condition to fill
it, but, thinking if she saw him Mrs. Swink might take in what she so
far has failed to understand, I was rather glad he was going to keep
his engagement. He didn't keep it."

"What did he do? Where did he go?"

Selwyn's face darkened. "I don't know. Nobody knows. He hasn't
been in his apartment since Christmas day. His trunk and clothes are
in his rooms, also his suit-cases and bags, and there is no evidence
of his having gone off on a trip. I haven't told Mildred. She'd go
into hysterics and tell the town Harrie had disappeared. Mrs. Swink,
however, had to be told something. Madeleine, I imagine, has given
notice and her mother is sitting up." Selwyn's hands made gesture of
disgust. "Her letter is inquisitorial and hysterical. My answer
will give a bump, I imagine."

"You've clouded visions and waked her from sweet dreaming. She's
been seeing herself in the Thorne house as the mother of its
mistress. I don't mean to laugh, indeed I don't, but--" I did
laugh. Mrs. Swink and Selwyn dwelling under the