rst to look upon this case as one of
ordinary abduction, I laid little stress on the report, destined though
it was to appear under startling head-lines on the morrow, and startled
my more credulous partner quite out of his usual equanimity, by ordering
him on our arrival at the station to buy me a ticket for ----, as I was
going back to Homewood.

"To Homewood, so late!"

"Exactly. It will not be late there--or if it is, anxious hearts make
light sleepers."

His shoulders rose a trifle, but he bought the ticket.

VIII

"PHILO! PHILO! PHILO!"

Never have I felt a weirder sensation than when I stepped from the cars
on to the solitary platform from which a few hours before I had seen the
little nursery-governess depart for New York. The train, soon to
disappear in the darkness of the long perspective, was all that gave
life and light to the scene, and when it was gone, nothing remained to
relieve the gloom or to break the universal stillness save the quiet lap
of the water and the moaning of the wind through the trees which climbed
the heights to Homewood.

I had determined to enter if possible by way of the private path, though
I expected to find it guarded against just such intrusion. In
approaching it I was given a full view of the river and thus was in a
position to note that the dock and adjoining banks were no longer bright
with lanterns in the hands of eager men bending with fixed eyes over the
flowing waters. The search which had kept so many busy at this spot for
well on to two days had been abandoned; and the darkness seemed doubly
dark and the silence doubly oppressive in contrast.

Yet hope spoke in the abandonment; and with renewed spirit and a more
than lively courage, I turned toward the little gate through which I had
passed twice before that day. As I expected, a silent figure rose up
from the shadows to prevent me; but it fell back at the mention of my
name and business, thus proving the man to be in the confidence of Mrs.
Ocumpaugh or, at the least, in that of Miss Porter.

"I am come for a social chat with the coachman," I explained. "Lights
burn late in such extensive stables. Don't worry about me. The people at
the house are in sympathy with my investigation."

Thus we stretch the truth at great crises.

"I know you," was the answer. "But keep away from the house. Our orders
are imperative to allow no one to approach it again to-night, except
with the child in hand or with such