d--"

"Well, well," interposed Mr. Gryce soothingly, "though the cat looks at
the king, it is no sign the king looks at the cat. We have to think of
everything you know."

"You must never think of anything like that."

Mr. Gryce softly ran his thumb around the brim of the hat he held in his
hand. "Mrs. Daniels," observed he, "it would greatly facilitate matters
if you would kindly tell us why you take such an interest in this girl.
One glimpse at her real history would do more towards setting us on the
right track than anything else you could offer."

Her face assumed an unmistakable frown. "Have I not told you," said she,
"what is known of it? That she came to me about two years ago for work;
that I liked her, and so hired her; that she has been with us ever since
and--"

"Then you will not tell us?" exclaimed Mr. Gryce.

Her face fell and a look of hesitation crossed it.

"I doubt if we can do anything unless you do," continued he.

Her countenance settled again into a resolved expression.

"You are mistaken," said she; "if the girl had a secret--as nearly all
girls have, brought low as she has evidently been--it had nothing to do
with her disappearance, nor would a knowledge of it help you in any way.
I am confident of this and so shall hold my peace."

She was not a woman to be frightened or cajoled into making revelations
she did not think necessary, and seeing it, Mr. Gryce refrained from
urging her further.

"However, you will at least tell me this," said he, "what were the
knick-knacks she took away with her from her bureau drawer?"

"No," said she, "for they have nothing to do with her abduction. They
were articles of positive value to her, though I assure you of little
importance to any one else. All that is shown by their disappearance is
the fact that she had a moment's time allowed her in which to collect
what she most wanted."

Mr. Gryce arose. "Well," said he, "you have given us a hard sum to
work out, but I am not the man to recoil from anything hard. If I can
discover the whereabouts of this girl I will certainly do it, but you
must help me."

"I, how?"

"By inserting a personal in the Herald. You say she loves you; and would
come back if she could. Now whether you believe it or not this is open
to doubt; therefore I would advise that you take some such means as
that to inform her of the anxiety of her friends and their desire to
communicate with her."

"Impossible," she cried vehem