ed from professional work."

"Then of what use is it to suggest his name?" asked Mrs. Morton,
quickly.

"He had already retired," Stapleton rejoined, "at the time of my boy's
kidnapping, but I prevailed on him to take up the case. His retirement
merely means that he is not in the active practice of his profession.
But exceptional cases, cases which by reason of their novelty interest
him, he may be persuaded to undertake. I fancy this matter of your
daughter's would prove attractive to him. It is unusual--bizarre. I
strongly advise you to see him."

"To do that, I must go to Washington?"

"Yes. I will give you a letter which will insure you an interview, and,
I hope, enlist his services in your behalf." He pressed a button on his
desk, summoning a stenographer. "I sincerely hope that you will be
successful."

Mrs. Morton sat in silence while the letter of introduction to Richard
Duvall was being written. Then she rose to go.

"I will leave for Washington this afternoon," she announced. "I feel
that there is no time to waste."

"You are quite right. And be sure to tell Mr. Duvall that you are a
close personal friend of mine, and that anything he can do for you I
shall appreciate to the utmost."

Mrs. Morton went back to the apartment, and made her preparations to
start. She determined to take a train leaving at half past three, and as
Ruth would not return from the studio until later, she called her up on
the telephone, and told her of her sudden determination.

"It is a matter of business, dear," she explained. "I will be back
to-morrow. Good-by." The girl's cheerful voice reassured her. At least
nothing had happened up to now, to give cause for alarm.

It was only when Mrs. Morton was about to leave for the train that her
nerves were once more subjected to a severe shock.

The telephone bell rang, and she went to answer it, thinking that Ruth
might for some reason have called her up.

Over the wire came a thin, queer voice.

"Beauty is only skin deep," it said. "A breath may destroy it." After
that, silence.

Mrs. Morton made a frantic effort to learn the number of the station
from which she had been called, but without success. In a rather
depressed state of mind, she made her way to the train.

It was half past eight at night when she arrived in Washington, and she
at once called up Richard Duvall on the telephone.

To her disappointment, she learned that he was out, and was not expected
back unt