hatever has happened to him, he will come back. I know it."

CHAPTER XI

POSTPONING HAPPINESS

But Tom Gray did not come back. Neither by word nor sign did those who
feverishly awaited news of him receive even the faintest intimation of
his whereabouts. Added to the heavy strain that Mrs. Gray and Grace were
laboring under, they were destined to grapple with the question: Why had
David Nesbit not responded to their plea for assistance? After three
weary days of waiting, Grace wrote to Miriam Nesbit asking if David were
in New York City. Miriam's prompt reply stated that business had called
David to Chicago. She expected that he would return to New York that
very day. The information brought the comforting assurance that once the
letter had come into his possession David would not fail them.

On the evening following the receipt of Miriam's letter, an anxious-eyed
young man swung off the eight o'clock train into Oakdale, and hailing a
taxicab was whirled away from the station toward the Harlowe's home.

"David!" was all Grace could find words for, when, entering the
living-room, her girlhood friend sprang forward to meet her with
outstretched hand of sympathy.

"I'm more sorry than I can say, Grace," David burst forth, as, motioning
him to a chair, Grace sat down opposite him. "I was delayed in Chicago
and didn't reach New York until this morning. My mail wasn't forwarded
to me, so I didn't get your letter until then. I sent your telegram to
Mr. Mackenzie, then caught the first train for Oakdale. Did you get my
wire?"

"Yes. I've been anxiously watching for you. It's dreadful--David."
Grace's voice trailed away into a stifled sob. Brave as she had tried to
be, David's belated presence was almost too much for her composure.

"I should say it was." David looked utter concern over the sad errand
that had brought him to Grace. "Tell me everything, Grace. I must know
the facts if I am to be of real service to you."

Fighting for self-control, Grace narrated briefly the little she knew
concerning Tom's strange disappearance. "Mrs. Gray had written Mr.
Mackenzie about Tom before I wrote you. I explained to you in my letter
that he was ill. That was Tom's reason for going away up there to that
dreadful camp. Mr. Mackenzie writes that Tom never arrived. He was very
much upset over it as he had been depending upon Tom to look after
things until he was well again. Poor Aunt Rose is nearly distracted. She
has put t