king his examination
of Ruth Morton's room, and, subsequently, had followed him from the
apartment to his hotel. He began to realize that he was dealing with a
shrewd brain, and one that acted with almost uncanny quickness and
precision. He determined that, if Mrs. Morton and her daughter changed
their place of residence the following day, he would do the same. He
said nothing of his intentions to Grace, however. It was more than ever
necessary that he preserve secrecy in this case.

"No bad news, I hope, Richard," Grace remarked, glancing up from her
sewing.

"No. Nothing serious. Have you heard anything from home?"

"Yes. Everything is going along quite smoothly. The boy is well and
happy, and Mrs. Preston says to stay as long as we want to."

"Well," said Duvall, rising and throwing down his newspaper, "if things
don't go better than they have been going to-day, I may have to be here
some time. I've got a queer case on, Grace. I'd like to tell you about
it, but I can't. But it is quite unusual. Some features to it that I
have never met before."

"Oh--I wish I might help you," Grace exclaimed. "You know how often I
have done so in the past."

"I know, dear. But I am bound to secrecy, for the present at least.
Suppose we turn in now. I've got to get up early."

"All right," Grace said. "But if you need my help, don't hesitate to ask
me. To tell you the truth, I'm having an awfully slow time."

CHAPTER VIII

Duvall made his appearance at the Morton apartment the following morning
in his ordinary guise. It was his intention, when the time came, to
disappear from the case in his normal person, to reappear in it, later,
in a complete disguise. But that time, he felt, had not yet arrived.

Mrs. Morton received him in fairly good spirits. Her daughter, she said,
had had a restful night, in spite of her terrible experience. When Ruth
rose from the breakfast table to greet him, he was gratified to find
that she showed no great traces of the fright of the evening before.

"I'm feeling almost myself again, Mr. Duvall," she said. "I've made up
my mind not to let these people frighten me again."

"Nothing further occurred last night, of course," Duvall asked.

"Nothing," replied Mrs. Morton. "I could almost believe the whole thing
a horrible dream." They did not touch on the question of going to a
hotel, during the short interval that elapsed before they set out for
the studio. Duvall was anxious to see Mr.