e had been watchful of her nurse from the first, and was
suspicious of the actions which had led to this untoward accident. Seeing
the two little books, she took them out. The note-book lay open and on
the page thus disclosed, she beheld written:

Ap Lox Fidestum Truhum

Ridiculous nonsense--until she consulted the code. Then these detached
and meaningless words took on a significance which she could not afford
to ignore:

Ap A change.
Lox Makes remarkable statements.
Fidestum Shall we return?
Trubum Not tractable.

Carmel endeavoured to find out for whom this telegram was intended. There
was nothing to inform her. A moment of indecision was followed by quick
action. She had noticed that she had been invariably addressed as Miss
Campbell by every one who had come into the room. Whether this was a
proof of the care with which she had been guarded from the curiosity of
strangers, or whether it was part of a system of deception springing from
quite different causes, she felt that in the present emergency it was a
fact to be thankful for and to be utilised.

Regaining her own room, which was on the other side of their common
sitting-room, she collected a few necessary articles, and placed them in
a bag which she thrust under her bed. Hunting for money, she found quite
an adequate amount in her own purse, which was attached to her person.
Satisfied thus far, she chose her most inconspicuous hat and coat, and
putting them on, went out by her own door into the corridor.

The time--it was the dinner-hour--favoured her attempt. She found her
way to the office unobserved, and, going frankly up to the clerk,
informed him that she had some telegrams to send and that she would be
out for some little time. Would he see that Miss Huckins was not
neglected in her absence?

The clerk, startled at these evidences of sense and self-reliance in one
he had been accustomed to see under the special protection of the very
woman she was now confiding to his care, surveyed her eloquent features
beaming with quiet resolve, and for a moment seemed at a loss how to take
this change and control the strange situation. Perhaps she understood
him, perhaps she only followed the impulses natural to her sex. She never
knew; she only remembers that she smiled, and that his hesitation
vanished at that smile.

"I will see to it," said he. Then, as she turned to go, he ventured to
add, "It is quite dark now. If you would like o