d with easy, off-hand
manners. But his keen blue eyes, the curve of his little blond mustache,
above all, the grip of his hand and the ring of his voice suited
Theodora, and, long before supper was over, she had forgotten her
protegee in the excitement of the unexpected addition to their family
circle. It was fortunate, perhaps, that the child, more tired than
hungry, had fallen asleep in the midst of Theodora's soft white bed.

As they were leaving the table, Mrs. McAlister laid a detaining hand on
Theodora's arm.

"Teddy, I've had to put Archie into your room, to-night. Can you sleep
in the little back chamber? I am sorry to turn you out, but Billy has
the spare room, and I didn't like to put Archie with him. Do you mind,
dear? It's only for one night; then we can make some other arrangement."

"I don't care at all," Theodora answered readily. "It wouldn't do to put
him in with Billy. When did Mr. Holden come?"

"At five. It was such a surprise, too. You know we didn't expect him for
a week; but the heavy snow sent the party in, and he is to have a
vacation till the middle of March. What do you think of my little
brother, Teddy?"

"I think he's splendid," Theodora replied so emphatically that her
mother smiled.

"Run along after him, then," she said. "I want you and Hope to see that
his visit is a good one. Hope took your things into the back room,
Teddy, so you'll find everything ready for you at bedtime."

To Theodora's eager young mind, it seemed that the evening was the
shortest she had ever spent, and, when ten o'clock struck, she was
still sitting perched on the arm of Hope's chair, while she listened to
Archie's stirring tales of life in camp and field, in mountain and canon
and desert. Then there was an interruption, for the bell rang and a
voice was heard asking for the doctor. Archie rose.

"Another patient, doctor? I believe I'll go to bed. Three nights in a
sleeper are too much for me. No, don't come with me, Bess; I know the
way perfectly."

However, Mrs. McAlister went to his door with him. As she came
downstairs, her husband met her in the hall.

"I don't quite comprehend this mystery, Bess," he said, while an anxious
frown puckered his brows. "There's a policeman here that accuses me of
having abducted a child. There's one missing from Water Street, it
seems, and he claims that she is here in this house."

"What?"

"'Tis a remarkable story. I can't seem to get at the bottom of it. He
do