ort of thing. Dash it all! I am quite nervous.
This will never do. Must find a way--good effect--cool and collected
stuff." So, ruminating and praying and moving ever more slowly, he
reached the door. Coming in sight of his party, he hurried to meet them.
"Awfully sorry!" he exclaimed excitedly. "The most rotten luck! Old
Maitland's just been called off."

"Called off!" cried Patricia, in dismay. "Where to!"

"Now, don't jump at me like that. Remember my heart. Met that
Johnny--the big chap dancing with Annette, you know--just met him--quite
worked up--a hurry call for the girl--for the girl, Annette, you know."

"The girl!" exclaimed Patricia. "You said Captain Jack."

"I know! I know!" replied Vic, somewhat impatiently. "I am a bit
excited, I confess. Rather nasty thing--Annette's brother, you
know--something wrong--accident, I think. Couldn't get the particulars."

"But Annette's brother is in Toronto," said Adrien, gravely.

"Exactly!" cried Vic. "That is what I have been telling you. A hurry
call--phone message for Annette--horrible accident. Maitland rushed her
right away in his car to catch the midnight to Toronto."

"By Jove! That is too bad," said Hugh, a genuine sympathy in his honest
voice. "That is hard luck on poor Annette. Tony is not exactly a safe
proposition, you know."

"Was he--is he killed?" cried Patricia, in a horror-stricken voice.

"Killed! Not a bit of it," said Vic cheerfully. "Slight injury--but
serious, I mean. You know, just enough to cause anxiety." Vic lit
another cigarette with ostentatious deliberation. "Nasty shock, you
know," he said.

"Who told you all this?" inquired Rupert.

"Who told me?" said Vic. "Why, that mad Johnny."

"Mad Johnny? What mad Johnny?"

Vic said: "Eh! What? You know, that--ahr--big chap who was falling over
her in the fox trot. Looked kind of crazy, you know--big chap--Scotch."

"Where is he now?" enquired Rupert.

"Oh, I fancy about there, somewhere," replied Vic, remembering that he
had seen McNish moving toward the door. "Better go and look him up and
get more particulars. Might help some, you know."

"Oh, Adrien, let us go to her," said Patricia. "I am sure Annette would
love to have you. Poor Annette!"

"Oh! I say!" interposed Vic hurriedly. "There is really no necessity. I
shouldn't like to intrude in family affairs and that sort of thing, you
know what I mean."

Adrien's grave, quiet eyes were upon Vic's face. "You think we had
better