ything of the child let me know," he said as if the words were forced
from him, and then he slammed the door behind him.

As they went down the stairs Miss Carter dropped behind the others. So
did Bob Strahan. As he waited for her he saw her dab her eyes with her
handkerchief and he put out his hand and touched her arm.

"Look here," he spoke sharply. "That won't do. Mary Rose is all
right, you know." And he gave her a little shake.

"I'd like to see that for myself, that she is all right." She dabbed
her eyes again with the damp little square of linen.

He put a hand on each shoulder and looked directly into her tear-wet
eyes. "Listen to me. I shan't go to bed until I do know that she's
all right. I couldn't sleep. Mary Rose has done too much for me.
When I think--Lord!--when she came here I was a friendless young cuss
hanging on to a job by the skin of my teeth and now--You know I used to
be crazy to know you when I met you in the hall and on the stairs and
it was Mary Rose, bless her heart! and her canary who made it possible
for us to be friends. I can't forget that and I'll find her."

She looked up and there was a light in her eyes that caused his hands
to tighten on her shoulders.

"You know I love you, honey," he said quickly. "I think I've always
loved you and ever since I got a real grip on my job I've wanted to
tell you. If you could care half as much for me as I do for you
I'd--I'd--" he stopped before he told her what he would do for she had
lifted her face and he had seen there that she did care, as much as he
did. He stooped and kissed her.

She kissed him also and clung to him for a moment before she pushed him
away.

"We--we shouldn't be thinking of ourselves now," her voice trembled.
"We must think of Mary Rose."

CHAPTER XXIV

Mrs. Donovan cried bitterly as she went down the stairs and Larry put
his arm around her.

"There, there, Kate," he said. "Crying won't help any."

"If we could only do somethin', Larry!" She wrung her hands. "If we
could only do somethin'! It seems awful just to have to wait an' wait.
I--I can't bear it."

"I'll call up the morning paper." Bob Strahan and Miss Carter had
slipped down behind the rest and no one noticed that they came in hand
in hand. "It won't do any harm to run a little story about Mary Rose
and then if she has strayed in anywhere or been found people will know
where to take her."

"The mornin' paper!" cried Mrs. Dono