all over the floor, together with
Dorothy's duplicate telegram, a number of cards, and some advertising
circulars. One of the cards bore the name of one J. P. Wilder, and the
legend, "Representing the New York _Evening Star_." There was nothing,
however, in all the stuff that appeared to be important.

Garrison read the various letters hastily, till he came to one from the
insurance company, his employers, requesting haste in the matter of the
Hardy case, and reminding him that he had reported but once. This he
filed away.

Aware at last that more than half an hour had gone, without a sign from
his man, he was on the point of going to the door to look out in the
hall when Tuttle's shadow fell upon the glass.

"I stayed away a little too long, I know," he said. "I was trying to
get a line on old man Robinson, to see if he'd give anything away, but
I guess he's got instructions from his son, who's gone away from town."

"Gone away from town?" repeated Garrison. "Where has he gone?"

"I don't know. The old man wouldn't say."

"You haven't seen Theodore?"

"No. He left about five this afternoon. The old man and his wife are
stopping in Sixty-fifth Street, where they used to live some months
ago."

"What did you report about me?"

"Nothing, except I hadn't seen you again," said Tuttle. "The old man
leaves it all to his son. He didn't seem to care where you had gone."

Garrison pondered the matter carefully. He made almost nothing out of
Theodore's departure from the scene. It might mean much or little.
That Theodore had something up his sleeve he entertained no doubt.

"It's important to find out where he has gone," he said. "See old
Robinson again. Tell him you have vital information on a special point
that Theodore instructed you to deliver to no one but himself, and the
old man may tell you where you should go. I am going out of town
to-night. Leave your address in case I wish to write."

"I'll do my best," said Tuttle, writing the address on a card. "Is
there anything more?"

"Yes. You know who the two men were who knocked me down in Central
Park and left a bomb in my pocket. Get around them in any way you can,
ascertain what agreement they had with young Robinson, or what
instructions, and find out why it was they did not rob me. Come here
at least once a day, right along, whether you find me in or not."

Once more Tuttle stated he would do his best. He left, and Garrison,
puzzling