er that very night, I gave my cards to two ladies who were
at the theatre with us; and I remember now that at that time I had only
these old-fashioned cards. I was rather ashamed of them, for Americans
are punctilious in such matters; and now that I think of it, one of the
ladies was carrying a gold-mesh bag."

"Who was she?" I asked, hardly daring to hope that I had really struck
the trail.

"I can't seem to remember her name, but perhaps it will come to me. It
was rather an English type of name, something like Coningsby."

"Where did she live?"

"I haven't the slightest idea. You see I meet these ladies so casually,
and I really never expect to see any of them again. Our exchange of
cards is a mere bit of formal courtesy. No, I can't remember her name,
or where she was from. But I don't think she was a New Yorker."

Truly it was hard to come so near getting what might be vital
information, and yet have it beyond my grasp! It was quite evident that
Mrs. Purvis was honestly trying to remember the lady's name, but could
not do so.

And then I had what seemed to me an inspiration. "Didn't she give you
her card?" I asked.

A light broke over Mrs. Purvis's face. "Why, yes, of course she did! And
I'm sure I can find it."

She turned to a card-tray, and rapidly running over the bits of
pasteboard, she selected three or four.

"Here they are," she exclaimed, "all here together. I mean all the cards
that were given me on that particular evening. And here is the name I
couldn't think of. It is Mrs. Cunningham. I remember distinctly that
she carried a gold bag, and no one else in the party did, for we were
admiring it. And here is her address on the card; Marathon Park, New
Jersey."

I almost fainted, myself, with the suddenness of the discovery. Had
I really found the name and address of the owner of the gold bag? Of
course there might be a slip yet, but the evidence seemed clear that
Mrs. Cunningham, of Marathon Park, owned the bag that had been the
subject of so much speculation.

I had no idea where Marathon Park might be, but that was a mere detail.
I thanked Mrs. Purvis sincerely for the help she had given me, and I
was glad I had not told her that her casual acquaintance was perhaps
implicated in a murder mystery.

I made my adieux and returned at once to West Sedgwick.

As he had promised, Parmalee met me at the station, and I told him the
whole story, for I thought him entitled to the information at once