te detectives there
to work with me. You know the city agency has its men out there
already?"

"No, I didn't. I thought all the force was centred here in this State
and on the Canada line. It strikes me that if she could know you were
going--and for what--she might speak. You might try that, and let me
know the result."

"I will."

The doctor drove off. Father Honore stood for a few minutes on the back
porch; he was thinking concentratedly:--How best could he approach the
stricken mother and acquaint her with his decision to search for her
son?

He was roused by the sound of a gentle voice speaking in French:

"Good-morning, Father Honore; how is Mrs. Googe? I have just heard of
her illness."

It was Sister Ste. Croix from the sisterhood home in The Gore.

The crisp morning air tinged with a slight color her wrinkled and
furrowed cheeks; her eyelids, also, were horribly wrinkled, as could be
plainly seen when they drooped heavily over the dark blue eyes. Yet
Sister Ste. Croix was still in middle life.

"There is every cause for great anxiety, I grieve to say. The doctor has
just gone."

"Who is with her, do you know?"

"Mrs. Caukins, so Ellen says."

"Do you think she would object to having me nurse her for a while? She
has been so lovely to me ever since I came here, and in one way and
another we have been much together. I have tried again and again to see
her during these dreadful weeks, but she has steadily refused to see me
or any of us--just shut herself out from her friends."

"I wish she would have you about her; it would do her good; and surely
Mrs. Caukins can't leave her household cares to stay with her long, nor
can she be running back and forth to attend to her. I am going to make
the attempt to see her, and if I succeed I will tell her that you are
ready to come at any minute--and only waiting to come to her."

"Do; and won't you tell Ellen I will come down and see her this
afternoon? Poor girl, she has been so terrified with the events of these
last weeks that I have feared she would not stay. If I'm here, I feel
sure she would remain."

"If Mrs. Googe will not heed your request, I do hope you will make it
your mission work to induce Ellen to stay."

"Indeed, I will; I thought she might stay the more willingly if I were
with her."

"I'm sure of it," Father Honore said heartily.

"Are you going in now?"

"Yes."

"Well, please tell Ellen that if Mrs. Googe wants me, she is to come