inite clue I had received from the
chalk-marks.

But I had not walked far before I met with a surprise which possibly
possessed a significance equal to anything I had already observed, if
only I could have fully understood it.

On the path into which I now entered, I encountered again the figure of
Mrs. Carew. Her face was turned full on mine, and she had evidently
retraced her steps to have another instant's conversation with me. The
next moment I was sure of this. Her eyes, always magnetic, shone with
increasing brightness as I advanced to meet her, and her manner, while
grave, was that of a woman quite conscious of the effect she produced by
her least word or action.

"I have returned to tell you," said she, "that I have more confidence in
your efforts than in those of the police officers around here. If
Gwendolen's fate is determined by any one it will be by you. So I want
to be of aid to you if I can. Remember that. I may have said this to you
before, but I wish to impress it upon you."

There was a flutter in her movements which astonished me. She was
surveying me in a straightforward way, and I could not but feel the fire
and force of her look. Happily she was no longer a young woman or I
might have misunderstood the disturbance which took place in my own
breast as I waited for the musical tones to cease.

"You are very good," I rejoined. "I need help, and shall be only too
glad to receive your assistance."

Yet I did question her, though I presently found myself walking toward
the house at her side. She may not have expected me to presume so far.
Certainly she showed no dissatisfaction when, at a parting in the path,
I took my leave of her and turned my face in the direction of the gates.
A strange sweet woman, with a power quite apart from the physical charms
which usually affect men of my age, but one not easily read nor parted
from unless one had an imperative errand, as I had.

This errand was to meet and forestall the messenger boy whom I momently
expected with the answer to my telegram. That an opportunity for gossip
was likewise afforded by the motley group of men and boys drawn up near
one of the gate-posts, gave an added interest to the event which I was
quite ready to appreciate. Approaching this group, I assimilated myself
with it as speedily as possible, and, having some tact for this sort of
thing, soon found myself the recipient of various gratuitous opinions as
to the significance of the f