m. I want, if possible, to see him and
converse with him before he goes. If that is not possible, and if he is
not found until just as the ship is sailing, then I want your agent to
wire to me the name of the steamer in which he goes and the port to
which it sails. Then if there is a faster steamer going, I might be
there as soon as he is; if not, I should wish you to telegraph to a
private detective firm across the water, which I suppose you could do,
to have somebody to meet the steamer as she came in, and without his
knowing it to keep him under his eye until I arrive."

"I could manage all that, sir, easily enough. I will send off four of
the photographs at once to the ports and the others as soon as I get
them, and will go down with the other photograph to the recruiting
office and arrange with one of the sergeants engaged there to let me
know if he turns up, and will send a man down to the docks to watch the
ships there. I will send off the other photos directly I get them."

There was nothing else for Captain Clinton to do, but before he returned
home he wrote out a series of advertisements and left them at the
offices of the principal papers. They ran as follows:--"If E.C., who
left Cheltenham suddenly, will return home he will find that he has
acted under a misapprehension. The woman's story was untrustworthy. He
is still regarded as a son by P.C. and L.C." Having done this he drove
to Paddington, and went down by an afternoon train.

Rupert arrived at Cheltenham just as the others had sat down to tea.

"Hullo, Clinton! Back again, eh? Glad to see you."

Rupert nodded a reply to the greeting. His heart was too full to speak,
and he dropped into the seat he was accustomed to use, the others moving
up closely to make room for him. A significant glance passed between the
boys. They saw that Edgar was not with him, and guessed that there was
something wrong. There had been a good deal of wonder among them at the
Clintons' sudden disappearance, and although several of the boys had
seen Rupert go into his brother's dormitory none had seen Edgar, and
somehow or other it leaked out that Rupert had started in a cab to the
station alone. There had been a good deal of quiet talk among the
seniors about it. All agreed that there was something strange about the
matter, especially as Robert, when questioned on the subject, had
replied that Mr. River-Smith's orders were that he was to say nothing
about it. As a precaution