ther people didn't attend to _this one_. _Somebody_ has to do
it," she ended triumphantly.

"I fully appreciate the fact, Mistress Batholommey, that other people
are making it possible for me to be _myself_----"

Here the conversation was interrupted by a couple of raps on the window
pane.

"What's that?" cried Mrs. Batholommey, jumping up in alarm.

"Telegram for Frederik Grimm," came a voice from the darkness, and a
form was silhouetted against the moonlight.

"Mr. Grimm's down at the hotel," said Mrs. Batholommey, hastily throwing
up the window, "but I'll sign for it. Where do I sign?" she fluttered.
"Oh, yes, I see, _here_!"

She wrote Frederik's name, then handed back the book to the telegraph
boy, and closed the window. Just as she laid the telegram on the desk,
Mr. Batholommey came into the room.

"Well, Doctor," he said with veiled sarcasm, "I would by all means
suggest that we don't judge Frederik until the information Willem has
_volunteered_ can be verified."

"Umph!" grunted the doctor.

Then he got up and went to the telephone.

"Four--red," he called to "Central."

Mr. Batholommey betook himself to the vestibule and began to put on his
rubbers with methodical care.

"However, I regret," (he went on as easily as if the doctor had not
grunted) "that Frederik has left the house without offering some sort of
explanation."

"Four--red?" pursued the doctor. "That you, Marget? I'm at Peter's. I
mean--I'm at the Grimms'. No, don't wait up for me. Send me my bag here.
I'll stay the night with Willem. Bye."

He put up the receiver and began to collect his scattered papers.

"Good-night, Doctor," said the clergyman. "Good-night, Rose."

He started toward the door, but the doctor called him back.

"Hold on, Mr. Batholommey!" he interposed. "I'm writing an account of
all that's happened here to-night--from the very beginning. I've an idea
it's going to make a stir. It's just the sort of thing the Society has
been after----"

"Indeed!" said Mr. Batholommey in a doubtful tone.

"When I have verified every word of the evidence by Willem's mother----"

Here the Rev. Mr. Batholommey smiled behind his hand in a decidedly
secular way.

"----I shall send in my report," continued the doctor. "Would you have
any objection to the name of Mrs. Batholommey being used as a witness?"

Mr. Batholommey hesitated. His usually placid eyes were full of
perplexity.

"Well--Doctor--I--I----"

But Mrs. Batholo