ave you been?"

"Don't touch me!" she breathed, and put her hands before her, warding
him off.

He looked at her in astonishment, and from her to Mann. Then he looked
back at the girl, his brow wrinkled in perplexity.

"This girl," said Mr. Mann, "thinks she is your wife."

"My wife?" said Frank, and looked again at her.

"Is this a bad joke or something--do you say that I am your husband?" he
asked.

She did not speak, but nodded slowly.

He sat down in a chair and whistled.

"This rather complicates matters," he said blankly, "but perhaps you can
explain?"

"I only know what the girl has told me," said Mr. Mann, shaking his
head. "I am afraid there is a terrible mistake here."

Frank turned to the girl.

"But did your husband look like me?"

She nodded.

"And did he call himself Frank Merrill?"

Again she nodded.

"Where is he now?"

She nodded, this time at him.

"But, great heavens," said Frank, with a gesture of despair, "you do not
suggest that I am the man?"

"You are the man," said the girl.

Again Frank looked appealingly at his friend, and Saul Arthur Mann saw
dismay and laughter in his eyes.

"I don't know what I can do," he said. "Perhaps if you left me alone
with her for a minute--"

"Don't! Don't!" she breathed. "Don't leave me alone with him. Stay
here."

"And where have you come from now?" asked Frank.

"From the house where you took me. You struck me yesterday," she went on
inconsequently.

Frank laughed.

"I am not only married, but I am a wife beater apparently," he said
desperately. "Now what can I do? I think the best thing that can be
done is for this lady to tell us where she lives and I will take her
back and confront her husband."

"I won't go with you!" cried the girl. "I won't! I won't! You said you'd
look after me, Mr. Mann. You promised."

The little investigator saw that she was distraught to a point where a
collapse was imminent.

"This gentleman will look after you also," he said encouragingly. "He is
as anxious to save you from your husband as anybody."

"I will not go," she cried, "If that man touches me," and she pointed to
Frank, "I'll scream."

Again came the tap at the door, and Frank looked round.

"More visitors?" he asked.

"It is all right," said Saul Arthur Mann. "There's a lady and a
gentleman to see me, isn't there?" he asked the commissionaire. "Show
them in."

May came first, saw the little tableau, and stopped, knowing
insti