"

Her hand went to her brow, and her eyes, startled and big, looked at him
swiftly.

"I hadn't noticed it," he went on, quietly, "until you pushed your hair
back a moment ago. It must have been very painful."

"Oh, yes--yes!" She hurriedly drew down some strands of the heavy bronze
hair over an ugly, dark bruise near the temple. "I had forgotten. Yes,
it was very painful, indeed, when it happened. You see," and she laughed
in a breathless, nervous sort of way, "my maid left the door of a
dressing cabinet open in my room at the theatre, and as I bent over I
struck against it."

He murmured something sympathetically; and then looked at Scanlon, who
obediently arose.

"In the morning," said Ashton-Kirk, "we'll take the first train for
Stanwick; and by this time to-morrow evening we may have some news of
importance for you."

"I hope so," she answered, "I sincerely hope so."

The maid entered in reply to a ring, and brought their hats and coats.

"It may be that you or your people, here in the house, can be of help to
us," said Ashton-Kirk, evenly. "I should like to feel that I can count
on that at any time."

"To be sure," Nora turned to the maid. "Anna, Mr. Ashton-Kirk is doing
me a great service. Anything he asks must be done."

"Yes, Miss Cavanaugh," said the maid.

Then the two men bid the charming actress good-bye; when they had
climbed into the cab and rolled away, the investigator lay back against
the hard leather padding and closed his eyes. Scanlon looked at the keen
outline of the face with interest. It was an altogether modern
countenance, in perfect tune with the time; but, for all that, there was
something almost mystic in it. It may have been that the mind which
weighed and valued so many things, unnoticed by the crowd, had given
something of the same touch to the face as the pondering of the secrets
of life is said to give to the oriental anchorites.

But after a little, the investigator sat upright.

"When does Miss Cavanaugh have a matinee?" he asked.

"Not until Saturday," replied Scanlon.

A look of annoyance came into the face of Ashton-Kirk.

"Too bad," said he. "Then we shall have to arrange something." He
reflected for a moment, snapping his fingers impatiently, as though for
an idea. Then his countenance suddenly lighted up. "I have it! Young
Burton is in the county prison awaiting action of the Grand Jury. What
more natural thing than that she should visit him there to offer
s