the telephone.

A strange but pleasant voice spoke to him, and asked him if he knew
Alice Adams.

"No, I don't," said Phil, wonderingly.

"She knows you, and--well, I may be doing the wrong thing, but I wish
you could come here."

"Where, please? and why should I come? I don't know Miss Adams,--I'm
sure."

"She is a dark-haired girl, with big, brown eyes, and a Western way of
speaking--"

"What? Has _she_ just come to you? Does she wear a tan-coloured cloth
suit,--and a hat with coque feathers?"

"Yes, she does! _Now_ will you come?"

"Where? Who are you?--I mean, may I ask your name?"

"I am Miss Grayson,--a motion-picture actress--"

"Yes, yes,--where are you? Where shall I come?"

"To my home in New York City." She gave him the address. "You see, Miss
Adams came here because she knows Miss Frawley,--we live together--but
Miss Frawley is out of town,--and I persuaded Miss Adams to stay with me
until her return. I can't make out the trouble, but I have learned the
address of the Farnsworths and--oh, well, I may as well tell you, Miss
Adams talked in her sleep. She arrived here utterly exhausted, and on
the verge of nervous prostration. But, it may be, some sleep will set
her nerves right, if the cause of the trouble can be removed. And,--I
know I am intruding,--but I can't help thinking that it's a lovers'
quarrel, and _you_ can set it right!"

"You've guessed only part of it, Miss Grayson. It isn't a lovers'
quarrel,--exactly,--but I _can_ set it right! Will you promise to keep
Miss--Adams there, until I can get there?"

"Yes, indeed. She's asleep yet,--but it's a broken slumber, and she
murmurs constantly of you,--and of her other friends."

"Thank you a thousand times, I'll be there in an hour. Good-bye."

"Come along, Patty," Van Reypen cried, as he hung up the receiver, "come
on, Bill! I've found her! She's assumed the name of Alice Adams,--and
she's with a sweet-voiced lady named Grayson. Come on,--I'll tell you
the rest as we go."

They didn't break the speed laws, as their car flew down to New York,
but it was only because that would have meant delay in reaching their
goal. About mid-afternoon they arrived at Miss Grayson's apartment and
surprised Azalea by entering the room where she sat.

"You naughty girl!" cried Patty,--but as she noted Azalea's pale face
and worried, harassed eyes, she just clasped her in her arms, with a
little crooning murmur of affection.

"It's all right, whate