searched under it. He
examined her clothes chest.

At last both returned to the kitchen.

The moment she got there, Eileen's heart stood still. She gave vent to
a startled exclamation, which, however, she quickly covered up by
stumbling slightly forward as if she had tripped on the rug and almost
upset the lamp.

The second officer, who all along had remained silent and simply an
onlooker, was seated on the top of the wood box, rapping his heels on
the side of it and whistling softly to himself with a look on his face
which might have been taken for one of blissful ignorance or secret
knowledge, so bland was it.

"All through, Barney?" he asked.

"Ya!"

"Satisfied?"

"Ya!--come on!"

The second officer turned to the box upon which he had been sitting.

"Some box this!" he exclaimed, kicking it with his foot. "Guess we'd
better see if there's anyone under the wood pile."

He got down and commenced to throw a few pieces off the top.

Eileen's heart stopped beating.

The detective at the door came over with a look of supreme contempt on
his face. He lifted the lid of the stove and spat some tobacco juice
into the fire, then he went over to his companion.

"Say, Jim!--are you a detective or a country boob on his vacation?"

"Why? What's the matter with you?"

"Aw, quit! Can't you see the lady wants to get to bed! Why don't you
look inside the teapot?"

"Oh, all right!" replied the other, dusting off his hands. "This is
your hunt:--if you are satisfied, so am I."

Eileen's heart thumped as if it would burst through her body, and she
feared for the very noise of it.

Slowly the second detective followed the other two men out.

CHAPTER II

The Wolf Note

At the door, the man carrying the rifle came close to Eileen. He
caught her hand in his and tapped it lightly.

"Don't worry, little girl! I tried my best to keep them from
disturbing you," he said in low tones, "but you know what these
fellows are like."

"Thank you! You are very kind," answered Eileen quietly. "Father will
thank you, too, when he comes back."

The Mayor wished her good-night, raised his hat and followed the
others, who were already well on their way down the hill.

Eileen waited at the door until they were no longer within sight or
earshot. Then she closed and bolted it. She ran over to the wood-box.
She tossed the chunks of wood about her in frantic haste, whispering,
almost crooning, to the man underneath, who di