(in this case at least), and though one of many owning to
similar hopes on this very train which was rushing me through to
Homewood, I had no feeling but that of confidence in a final success.
How well founded this confidence was, will presently appear.

The number of seedy-looking men with a mysterious air who alighted in my
company at ---- station and immediately proceeded to make their way up
the steep street toward Homewood, warned me that it would soon be
extremely difficult for any one to obtain access to the parties most
interested in the child's loss. Had I not possessed the advantage of
being already known to Mrs. Ocumpaugh, I should have immediately given
up all hope of ever obtaining access to her presence; and even with this
fact to back me, I approached the house with very little confidence in
my ability to win my way through the high iron gates I had so frequently
passed before without difficulty.

And indeed I found them well guarded. As I came nearer, I could see man
after man being turned away, and not till my card had been handed in,
and a hurried note to boot, did I obtain permission to pass the first
boundary. Another note secured me admission to the house, but there my
progress stopped. Mrs. Ocumpaugh had already been interviewed by five
reporters and a special agent from the New York police. She could see no
one else at present. If, however, my business was of importance, an
opportunity would be given me to see Miss Porter. Miss Porter was her
companion and female factotum.

As I had calculated upon having a half-dozen words with the mother
herself, I was greatly thrown out by this; but going upon the principle
that "half a loaf was better than no bread," I was about to express a
desire to see Miss Porter, when an incident occurred which effectually
changed my mind in this regard.

The hall in which I was standing and which communicated with the side
door by which I had entered, ended in a staircase, leading, as I had
reason to believe, to the smaller and less pretentious rooms in the rear
of the house. While I hesitated what reply to give the girl awaiting my
decision, I caught the sound of soft weeping from the top of this
staircase, and presently beheld the figure of a young woman coming
slowly down, clad in coat and hat and giving every evidence both in
dress and manner of leaving for good. It was Miss Graham, a young woman
who held the position of nursery-governess to the child. I had seen