r came up the walk, he turned to
stare at them.

"This is Mr. Erwin Madden from Chicago," the housekeeper said. "He
wishes to see you, Mr. Nichols."

"I hope I haven't kept you waiting," remarked the detective pleasantly.

"No, I arrived only a few minutes ago. May I talk with you?"

"Certainly," replied Mr. Nichols. He turned toward the housekeeper who
was loitering in the doorway. "That will be all, Mrs. Masterbrook."

After the woman had gone, Mr. Nichols offered the visitor a chair on
the porch. Penny started to go into the house but Mr. Madden indicated
that it was unnecessary for her to leave.

"My business isn't of a confidential nature," he said pleasantly. "In
fact, I am trying to broadcast my mission here in Kendon."

"If I had known that I should have invited our housekeeper to remain,"
smiled Mr. Nichols. "The town has few secrets unshared by her."

"I came here in search of my business partner, a man by the name of Jay
Kline," the visitor went on. "He left Chicago some days ago, coming to
Kendon to attend to a private business matter which did not concern the
firm. He has not been heard from since."

"Indeed?" inquired Mr. Nichols politely. "You think that he has met
with a mishap?"

"Yes, that is my belief," returned Mr. Madden gravely. "Mr. Kline gave
me to understand that his mission here was a dangerous one. If
something had not gone wrong I know I should have heard of him before
this."

"Whom did your friend plan to visit here?"

"I don't know," the visitor admitted. "Mr. Kline was very secretive."

"Have you inquired for him in the village?"

"Yes, no one has heard of the man. It is all very bewildering."

"Are you actually sure that he came to Kendon?" inquired Mr. Nichols.

"I have no proof, but neither have I any reason for thinking that he
would go elsewhere. I am convinced that my partner met with foul play."

"You wished to consult me professionally?" Mr. Nichols asked. He
wondered who had sent the man to him.

"Professionally?" Mr. Madden questioned in a puzzled tone.

"I am a detective, you know," Mr. Nichols smiled. "On vacation at the
present."

"Oh," murmured the visitor in surprise. "No, I wasn't aware of your
calling. The grocery store man sent me to you. He told me that you
had picked up a stranger in your car several nights ago, and I thought
that by some chance the man might have been my missing partner."

"We did give a young man a lift to