tten
characters had been placed. Duvall glanced at them. "As you will look
soon," the words read. Below them was fixed the grinning Death's head
seal. Unobserved in the confusion, Duvall thrust the photograph into his
pocket, and turned to Ruth and the others.

The girl had recovered herself by now, and was being conducted to her
dressing room by a solicitous crowd. So far as Duvall would see, she had
said nothing to those about her as to the cause of her sudden
indisposition, and with the exception of the man who had been Duvall's
guide, none of them had observed the opening of the package containing
the photograph, nor its immediate effect upon her.

The latter, however, whose name was Baker, came over to Duvall and
addressed him.

"What was it about that photograph that upset Miss Morton so?" he asked.
"And what has become of it?"

Duvall drew him to one side.

"Let us go to your office, Mr. Baker," he said. "I have a most important
matter to discuss with you."

Baker regarded the detective for a moment in surprise, then, seeing that
Duvall was very much in earnest, he led the way to his private office.

"I am not a newspaper writer, Mr. Baker," Duvall said, as soon as they
were seated. "As a matter of fact, I am a detective, in the employ of
Mrs. Morton, Ruth Morton's mother."

"A detective?" he questioned. "Why has Miss Morton's mother employed a
detective?"

"Because someone is persecuting the girl, by sending her threatening
letters, saying that her beauty is to be destroyed. This photograph"--he
drew the hideous picture from his pocket--"is a sample of their work."

Mr. Baker regarded the photograph for a moment in silence, then rose
with a growl of rage and struck his clenched fist upon the desk.

"This is outrageous--damnable!" he cried. "It cannot go on. No wonder
the poor girl looked tired out. We will put the matter in the hands of
the police. We will spend any amount of money----"

"Wait a moment, Mr. Baker," Duvall interrupted, urging the angry man
back into his chair. "Nothing is to be gained by giving any publicity to
this matter. The scoundrels who are at the bottom of it will at once be
warned, and then our chance of catching them will be small indeed. So
far, not a soul knows that I am working on this case, outside of Mrs.
Morton, and yourself. Even Miss Ruth does not know it. I have already
unearthed some very surprising things connected with the case, although
I have been occupied wi