stances made this case
seem an exception. "We might telephone to Mr. Galbraith and ask his
permission," she suggested.

But Big Bill seemed suddenly to have made up his mind.

"No!" he declared, "_I'll_ take the responsibility of this thing. To
telephone would frighten Mr. Galbraith, and would delay matters too
much, beside. I shall read this note, and if I can't square my action
with Mr. Galbraith afterward, I'll accept the consequences."

The impressive manner of the big man, his stern, set face, and honest,
determined blue eyes convinced Patty that he was right, and together
they read the note.

In it, as they had feared, Mona told her father that she was going
away to marry Mr. Lansing, because her father would not allow her to
marry him otherwise. She expressed regret at the sorrow she knew this
would bring to her father, but she said she was old enough to decide
for herself whom she wished to marry, and she felt sure that after it
was over he would forgive her, and call his two children back to him.

"Mona never wrote that note of her own accord," exclaimed Patty,
indignantly. "That man made her do it!"

"Of course he did!" agreed Bill, in a stern voice. "I know
Lansing,--and, Patty, the man is a scoundrel."

"You know him? I didn't know you did."

"Yes, I do! And I ought to have warned Mona more against him. I did
tell her what his real nature is, but she wouldn't listen, and I never
dreamed she was so deeply infatuated with him. But we mustn't blame
her, Patty. She was simply under the influence of that man, and he
persuaded her to go with him against her better judgment. But we must
go after them and bring them back."

"But you're going West to-night."

"Not unless we rescue Mona first! Why, Patty, she _mustn't_ be allowed
to marry that man! I tell you he's a scoundrel, and I never say _that_
about a man unless I _know_ it to be true. But this is no time to
discuss Lansing. We must simply fly after them."

"But how do you know where they've gone?"

"I don't know! But we must find out, somehow. Perhaps the men at the
door can tell us. Perhaps Anne can."

"I only know this, sir," said Anne, who was wringing her hands and
weeping; "when Miss Mona was telephoning, she said something about
Greenwich."

"Of course!" cried Bill. "That's exactly where they'd go! But wait,
they would have to go for a license first."

"Telephone the license man," said Patty, inspired by Bill's manner and
tones.

"Ri