"

"Tell him to hold that wire!" cut in Jim; and took the receiver from
Skidder's shaking fingers.

"Is the Shadow Hill Trust Company insolvent?" he asked. "You say that
the bank closed its doors this morning? Have you any idea of its
condition? Looted? Is it entirely cleaned out? Is there no chance for
depositors? I wish to inquire about the trust funds, bonds and other
investments belonging to a friend of mine, Miss Dumont.... Yes, I'll
wait."

He turned a troubled and sombre gaze toward Skidder, who sat there
pasty-faced, with sagging jaw, staring back at him. And presently:

"Yes.... Yes, this is Mr. Shotwell, a friend of Miss Dumont....
Yes.... Yes.... Yes.... I see.... Yes, I shall try to communicate with
her immediately.... Yes, I suppose the news will be published in the
evening papers.... Certainly.... Yes, I have no doubt that she will go
at once to Shadow Hill.... Thank you.... Yes, it does seem rather
hopeless.... I'll try to find her and break it to her.... Thank you.
Good-bye."

He hung up the receiver, took his hat and coat, his eyes fixed
absently on Skidder.

"You'd better beat it to your attorney," he remarked, and went out.

* * * * *

He could not find Palla. She was not at the Red Cross, not at the
canteen, not at the new Hostess House.

He telephoned Ilse for information, but she was not at home.

Twice he called at Palla's house, leaving a message the last time
that she should telephone him at the club on her arrival.

He went to the club and waited there, trying to read. At a quarter to
six o'clock no message from her had come.

Again he telephoned Ilse; she had not returned. He even telephoned to
Marya, loath to disturb her; but she, also, was not at home.

The chances that he could break the news to Palla before she read it
in the evening paper were becoming negligible. He had done his best to
forestall them. But at six the evening papers arrived at the club. And
in every one of them was an account of the defalcation and suicide of
the Honorable Alonzo D. Pawling, president of the Shadow Hill Trust
Company. But nothing yet concerning the defalcation and disappearance
of Angelo Puma.

Jim had no inclination to eat, but he tried to at seven-thirty, still
waiting and hoping for a message from Palla.

He tried her house again about half past eight. This time the maid
answered that Miss Dumont had telephoned from down town that she would