his son had been murdered.

"I called up everybody I could think of at Bailey Harbor, that dismal
rotten hole, and got nothing for my trouble. Nothing! A fool druggist,
who pretended to know everything about the place, had the effrontery to
tell me Putney hadn't been there for a week and declared that his family
had left! Why should they leave? I ask you to tell me why my
daughter-in-law should leave a comfortable house at the shore at this
season and tell nobody her destination?"

As no member of his growing audience of guests, clerks and bell-hops
could answer his questions, Mr. Congdon swept the whole company with a
fierce, disdainful glare and began mobilizing the entire day watch of
porters and bell-boys to convey his luggage to his room. One of the
young gentlemen was engaged at the moment in winking at the girl
attendant at the cigar counter when the agitated traveler thrust the
point of an enormous umbrella into his ribs with a vigor that elicited a
yell of surprise and pain.

The concentration of the hotel staff upon the transfer of Mr. Congdon's
luggage to his room left the Governor and Archie to manage the removal
of their own effects to the waiting car. Seebrook and Walters obligingly
assisted, laughing at Congdon's eccentricities.

"The arrival of that enchanting old crank increases my grief at
leaving," declared the Governor. "A delightful person. The son he
mentioned with so much feeling was in Boston looking for _him_ a month
ago."

Seebrook seized the Governor's kit bag containing the sixty thousand
dollars and carried it out to the car. The sight of it in Seebrook's
hand gave Archie sensations of nausea that were not relieved by the grin
he detected on the Governor's face. Within an hour or two at most the
substitution and robbery would be discovered and the country would ring
with the demand for their detention. But the Governor was carrying off
the departure with his usual gaiety. It was clear that he had made the
most favorable impression upon Seebrook and Walters; and in the cordial
handshaking and expressions of hope for future meetings Archie joined
with the best spirit he could muster. A cheery good-by caused him to
look up. Miss Seebrook with a red rose in her hand waved to him from her
window.

As he lifted his cap she dropped the rose with a graceful sweep of the
arm.

"Like the old stage coach days!" cried the Governor, applauding Archie's
catch.

He jumped into the machine and A