olconda by the intangible potent arm of the
law. And all his diligent efforts to find the owners of the property had
been in vain. Then he had come to New York, largely to enjoy a
long-anticipated vacation, and before he had had time to make definite
plans and decide upon the best methods of prosecuting his search for the
owners of the mine, he heard, by the merest chance, of a fortune-teller
who called herself Mariposa and who always appeared veiled. This fanciful
symbolism might of course be the merest coincidence; but Hayden could not
so view it. It was too significant not to smack of design.

And then, by another curious turn of the wheel, he had met a strange and
lovely lady with a chain of jeweled butterflies about her throat, a great
silver butterfly upon her breast. What significance could be attached to
them? Apparently none. They seemed the fad of several great ladies and a
very beautiful and extravagant fad; but what was the inner meaning, if
indeed there was any? Yet, look at the matter dispassionately as he
would, he could not rid himself of the idea that these delicately
fashioned, fluttering things had a significance. Well, perhaps the day
would disclose it. There was no use in his attempting to arrive at a
solution of these enigmas. He could but await the pleasure of destiny.
And further, there was that mysterious telephone message, a still
unsolved enigma. Daily, he had waited for another message from the golden
voiced unknown, but so far, all his waiting and hoping had met with a
barren reward.

Then his thoughts reverted to his conversation with Mrs. Habersham, and
his heart rose buoyantly with hope. She had, at least, assured him of one
thing, and that was that there was nothing definite in these reports of
Marcia's engagement to Wilfred Ames; and there were secret intimations
prompted not of his vanity, but of a belief in the sympathetic
understanding existing between Marcia and himself, which confirmed him in
his determination to make the most of a fighting chance.

He managed, with these reflections, his correspondence and the various
details of some business matters, to pass the morning; but when at three
o'clock he made his way to the Mariposa's apartment he found himself to
his own disgust in an unwonted state of excitement, which, as usual with
him, revealed itself only in a more calm and leisurely demeanor; but when
on stepping from the elevator he realized that his hands were like ice,
he