red's name would be dragged. No, if that were
the explanation, it would be better to let him return in his own good
time and then have a serious talk with him and try to get at the
truth.

"No," he said at last, taking down his arms and leaning back into the
chair's capacious embrace, "I don't think we'd better take that
extreme measure; at least, not yet. In my judgment you've acted
prudently, my dear, in not letting anybody know his absence is other
than an ordinary business matter. It is now about two weeks since
he--went away?"

"Two weeks and a half."

"Well, I think we'd better wait at least another week before we do
anything. And, meantime, all that you've told me will be a secret
between you and me."

"Thank you, Dr. Annister. You've relieved my anxiety very much,
indeed. And I'm so glad you think as you do, for I dreaded doing
anything about it for fear it might get into the papers and there'd be
all that horrid publicity and the reporters coming and catechizing me
every day."

"Wait a bit," he said as she rose to go. "I want to ask you more about
this Gordon. He seems to you an honest, straightforward sort of man?"

"Oh, entirely, Dr. Annister! He is so frank and sincere and direct
that you can't help believing in him. He seems to know Mr. Brand
very, very intimately, too. And yet such an angry look crosses his
face sometimes when we speak about Mr. Brand that I am very much
puzzled. It doesn't seem as if they could be such good friends as they
would have to be for Mr. Gordon to know all he does."

"I wish I could see him and talk with him myself. Do you know his
address?"

"No, sir. And he's not in either the telephone or the city directory."

"Well, if he comes to your office again ask him to come up here with
you. Explain how anxious we are--doubtless he knows that Felix and
Mildred are engaged--and say that it would be a great relief to us if
we could hear from his own lips that he is still sure of Mr. Brand's
safety. I'll see him first and if he inspires my confidence as he does
yours I'll have Mildred come in and talk with him, too. Won't you go
up and see Mildred and Mrs. Annister?"

"I'd love to, Dr. Annister, but--Mildred will be so anxious for news,
and I can't tell her anything more than I have a dozen times already,
and----"

"I understand," he interrupted. "I know, it's hard not to be able to
tell her what she longs to hear. Ah, Henrietta," and he shook his head
sadly, "there isn't