ve a great chance in life. May no misfortunes rob you of it."

The storm had moderated somewhat. The strain of the strange story made
a deep impression upon the listeners, and the young men, quick to realize
this effect upon their girl friends, now proposed that they all go outside
and see "what the weather looked like."

Anxious to know the prospects for the long auto tour they were to take
on the following morning, all now hurried to the side porch, leaving the
woman alone.

"My, isn't it beautiful!" exclaimed Eline. "How sweet everything smells!"

"And that little breeze," said Ed, "will soon dry up the mud. I am glad it
did not rain longer."

"If it did," added Walter, "we would have to load up with planks to bridge
over the bad places. Can't depend on rail fences over where we're going."

For some time they stood admiring the newly-made beauties of the wonderful
out-doors, then Cora thought perhaps she might arrange for Mrs. Raymond
to stay in the servants' quarters over night. They had left the woman
rather abruptly, she feared.

Cora asked Jack what he thought, and he agreed that the woman's story
sounded plausible, and that it was their duty to do what they could to
assist her, if they could. But he did not seem very keen.

With the intention of asking Mrs. Raymond to remain, Cora left the others
and went back to the library.

No one was in the room!

"Perhaps she went into the kitchen," Cora thought, opening the door
through the hallway to that room.

"Where's Mrs. Raymond; the strange woman?" she asked Nettie.

"She did not come out here," replied the maid. "Isn't she with you?"

"No, we left her in the library," Cora replied, and without further
inquiry she looked down the driveway and could just see a vanishing
shadow turn into the road. But it may not have been Mrs. Raymond.

"I guess she's gone," continued Cora to Nettie. "And I am sorry, for we
wanted to keep her for the night. Well, I hope the poor creature was
cheered up some. She seemed to need encouragement. We did all we could,
perhaps."

"Is she gone?" asked Bess, when they all had come in again, having
satisfied themselves that fine weather was promised for the morning. "I
hoped she would tell us more about the Ford girl--give us a description of
her, at least. We might run across her somewhere."

"It all seemed rather weird," said Cora. "But really we must be on the
lookout. Who knows but we may help unravel the mystery?"

"But