e her cordially."

"You know, father, that I would never willfully wound you in any way, and
when Mrs. Montague comes as your wife, I shall certainly accord her all
due respect."

Ray had worded his reply very cautiously, but he could not prevent
himself from laying a slight emphasis upon the adverb, for he had
resolved that if Mrs. Montague had been concerned in any way in a plot
against Mona's honor or happiness, he would not spare her, nor any effort
to prove it to his father, and thus prevent him, if possible, from
ruining his own life by a union with such a false and unscrupulous woman.

"Thank you, Ray," Mr. Palmer replied, but not in a remarkably hopeful
tone, and then remarking that he had a little matter of business to
attend to, Ray went out.

Late as it was, he hastened to a cable office, hoping to be able to send
a night dispatch to Havana, but he found the place closed, therefore he
was obliged to retrace his steps, and wait until morning.

There was not much sleep or rest for him that night. His faith in Mona's
truth and constancy had all returned, but he was terribly anxious about
her, for the more he thought over what he had heard, the more he was
convinced that she was the victim of some cunning plot that might make
her very wretched, even if it failed to accomplish its object. He knew
that she was very spirited, and would not be likely to submit to the
wrong that had been perpetrated against her, and this of itself might
serve to make her situation all the more perilous.

He was at the cable office by the time it was opened the next morning,
and dispatched the following message to the American Consul in Havana:

"Couple, registered as Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hamblin, sailed from New
Orleans for Havana, April 28th. Search for them in Havana hotels. Succor
young lady, who is not Mrs. Hamblin. Answer."

Ray felt that this was the very best thing that he could do.

He would gladly have gone himself to Havana, and longed to do so, but he
was sure that if she should escape from her abductor--for so he regarded
Louis Hamblin--Mona would be likely to return immediately to New York and
to him. Thus he concluded it would be best to send the above message and
await an answer from the consul, then if he could learn nothing about
the couple he would go himself to search for Mona.

The day seemed interminable, and he was nearly distracted when night
came, and he received no answer to his dispatch. He had not be