d her?"

He shrugged. "There's the rub. She's left town."

She steadied herself with a hand on the table. "Still I can follow
her...."

"Yes--and must. That's what I've come to tell you and to help you do."

"Where has she gone?"

"To her country place in Connecticut, on the Sound shore."

"How can I get there? By railroad?" Eleanor started toward the
telephone.

"Hold on!" he said sharply. "What are you going to do?"

"Order a time-table--"

"Useless," he commented curtly. "Every terminal in the city is already
watched by detectives. They'd spot you in a twinkling. Your only
salvation is to get to Miss Landis before they catch you."

In her excitement and confusion she could only stand and stare. A
solitary thought dominated her consciousness, dwarfing and distorting
all others: she was in danger of arrest, imprisonment, the shame and
ignominy of public prosecution. Even though she were to be cleared of
the charge, the stain of it would cling to her, an ineradicable blot.

And every avenue of escape was closed to her! Her lips trembled and her
eyes brimmed, glistening. Despair lay cold in her heart.

She was so weary and distraught with the strain of nerves taut and
vibrant with emotion, that she was by no means herself. She had no time
for either thought or calm consideration; and even with plenty of time,
she would have found herself unable to think clearly and calmly.

"What am I to do, then?" she whispered.

"Trust me," the man replied quietly. "There's just one way to reach this
woman without risk of detection--and that's good only if we act _now_.
Get your things together; pay your bill; leave word to deliver your
trunks to your order; and come with me. I have a motor-car waiting round
the corner. In an hour we can be out of the city. By noon I can have you
at Miss Landis' home."

"Yes," she cried, almost hysterical--"yes, that's the way!"

"Then do what packing you must. Here, I'll lend a hand."

Fortunately, Eleanor had merely opened her trunks and bags, removing
only such garments and toilet accessories as she had required for dinner
and the theatre. These lay scattered about the room, easily to be
gathered up and stuffed with careless haste into her trunks. In ten
minutes the man was turning the keys in their various locks, while she
stood waiting with a small handbag containing a few necessaries, a
motor-coat over her arm, a thick veil draped from her hat.

"One minute," the man said, s