f wonder or interest between the eyes.

"I had business in that hotel on that morning," I continued. "I had left
a letter for a young friend of mine in the Bible that lies on the small
table of the inner parlor, and as she never received it, I have been
driven into making all kinds of inquiries, in hope of finding some
explanation of the fact. As you were there at the time, you may have
seen something that would aid me. Is it not possible, Mrs. Walworth?"

Her smile, which had faded, reappeared on the lips which Taylor so much
admired, a little pout became visible and she looked quite enchanting.

"I do not even remember being at that hotel at all," she protested. "Did
Mr. Taylor say I was there?" she inquired, with just that added look of
exquisite naivete which the utterance of a lover's name should call up
on the face of a prospective bride.

"No," I answered gravely, "Mr. Taylor, unhappily, was not with you that
morning."

She looked startled.

"Unhappily," she repeated. "What do you mean by that word?" And she drew
back looking very much displeased.

I had expected this and so was not thrown off my guard.

"I mean," I proceeded calmly, "that if you had had such a companion with
you on that morning I should now be able to put my question to him,
instead of taking up your time and interrupting your affairs by my
importunities."

She lost her look of anger and acquired one of doubt. Did she survey me
so closely because she was anxious to know if I had compromised her in
the eyes of her intended husband? Or was her expression merely that
natural to innocence equally startled and perplexed? I could not
determine.

"You will tell me just what you mean?" said she earnestly.

I was equally emphatic in my reply. "That is only just. You ought to
know why I trouble you with this matter. It is because this letter of
which I speak was taken from its hiding place by some one who went into
the hotel parlor between the hours of half past ten and twelve, and to
my certain knowledge only three persons crossed its threshold on that
especial morning at that especial time. I naturally appeal to each of
them in turn for an answer to the problem that is troubling me. You know
Miss N. Seeing by accident a letter addressed to her lying in a Bible in
a strange hotel, you might think it your duty to take it out and carry
it to her. If you did and if you lost it----"

"But I didn't," she interrupted warmly. "I know nothing about