blank and unsuggestive as ever. The
most exhaustive examination of its chain, its clasp and its thousands of
links gave me not the tiniest thread or shred of any sort.

But as I poked and pried around in its lining I found a card, which had
slipped between the main lining and an inside pocket.

I drew it out as carefully as I could, and it proved to be a small plain
visiting card bearing the engraved name, "Mrs. Egerton Purvis."

I sat staring at it, and then furtively glanced at Mr. Goodrich. He was
not observing me, and I instinctively felt that I did not wish him to
know of the card until I myself had given the matter further thought.

I returned the card to its hiding place and returned the bag to Mr.
Goodrich, after which I went away.

I had not copied the name, for it was indelibly photographed upon my
brain. As I walked along the street I tried to construct the personality
of Mrs. Egerton Purvis from her card. But I was able to make no rational
deductions, except that the name sounded aristocratic, and was quite in
keeping with the general effect of the bag and its contents.

To be sure I might have deduced that she was a lady of average height
and size, because she wore a number six glove; that she was careful of
her personal appearance, because she possessed a vanity case; that she
was of tidy habits, because she evidently expected to send her gowns
to be cleaned. But all these things seemed to me puerile and even
ridiculous, as such characteristics would apply to thousands of woman
all over the country.

Instead of this, I went straight to the telegraph office and wired to
headquarters in a cipher code. I instructed them to learn the identity
and whereabouts of Mrs. Egerton Purvis, and advise me as soon as
possible.

Then I returned to the Sedgwick Arms, feeling decidedly well satisfied
with my morning's work, and content to wait until after Mr. Crawford's
funeral to do any further real work in the matter.

X. THE WILL

I went to the Crawford house on the day of the funeral; but as I reached
there somewhat earlier than the hour appointed, I went into the office
with the idea of looking about for further clues.

In the office I found Gregory Hall; looking decidedly disturbed.

"I can't find Mr. Crawford's will," he said, as he successively looked
through one drawer after another.

"What!" I responded. "Hasn't that been located already?"

"No; it's this way: I didn't see it here in this