id was true,
the case might have elements which would make it more than usually
interesting.

"Has your daughter any enemy, who might envy her her success, and wish
to deprive her of it?" he asked.

"None, that I know of. But since these two letters came, I feel
convinced that someone, whom, I cannot imagine, _does_ feel that way
toward her, and that on account of it she is in the gravest danger.
Don't you think so, Mr. Duvall?"

"I think it highly probable. And what, Mrs. Morton, would you like to
have me do in the matter?"

"Why--come to New York, take up the case, and find out who these
wretches are, so that they may be prevented from doing my daughter any
harm. There is no time to lose. They may carry out their threats at any
moment. You will observe that in the first letter they said that her
beauty would be destroyed '_within thirty days_.' One of those days has
already passed. To-day is the second. At most, we have but twenty-eight
days left in which to find out who is responsible for this outrage.
Investigation may consume a great deal of time. I hope that you will
consent to come to New York and take charge of the matter at once. I am
returning this afternoon, as soon as I can get a train. Can you not
return with me? As for the matter of expense, I place no limit upon it.
There is nothing I would not sacrifice, to save my daughter from the
fate they have threatened. Think what it would mean, Mr. Duvall. A
young, beautiful, innocent girl, scarcely more than a child, to go
through life with her beauty taken from her, made hideous by some
fiendish device, blinded and scarred by acid, her features
crushed--gashed by some sudden blow. Can you imagine anything more
terrible?"

Duvall thought for moment of his own lovely child, now almost three
years old, and shuddered. Bank burglaries, thefts of jewels, seemed
relatively of small importance compared with such a situation as this.
His feelings of chivalry rose. He felt a strong desire to help this
young girl.

"Here is her picture," Mrs. Morton continued, taking a photograph from
her handbag and extending it to Duvall.

The latter gazed at the charming features of the young actress, and
nodded.

"She is lovely--exquisite," he murmured. "I don't wonder you feel as you
do. I did not intend to take up any detective work at this time, but I
have decided to assist you in this matter in any way that I can."

"Oh--thank you, Mr. Duvall." There were tears in Mrs.