per.

The letter began:

DEAR LEONTINE:

I am safe in my new home, and there's no need to worry. I am
picking up all that I have lost. I hope to call on you before long
and show what good progress I have made. With grateful messages for
Madame, from her devoted little servant, and kind remembrance to
you--I am, faithfully yours,

Clodagh Riley.

P.S.--If possible I should like Mr. O'R. to hear that I am doing
well. He has been kind since you saw me last.

There was no date and no address on this letter, which filled only one
page.

Beverley's bewilderment passed as she studied the letter. Clo's
underlying motives came to the surface with a flash.

"I suppose," she explained quietly, "that Mademoiselle fancied it would
be a liberty to write to me. I'm glad to hear from her so soon. As the
letter is really for me, perhaps I'd better keep it."

"Please do, madame," Leontine urged, again attacking the tiny hooks
which fastened her mistress's dinner dress. "I noticed that Mademoiselle
did not put the number of the house or street where she is staying. But,
of course, Madame will know both."

"Of course," echoed Beverley. She guessed that Leontine must be consumed
with curiosity as to Clo's disappearance and the departure of Sister
Lake.

When Leontine had hooked the last hook Beverley went to the boudoir.
There she sat down with Clo's cryptic message, praying that Roger might
not come till she had unravelled it.

But, after all, the meaning of one sentence after another sprang quickly
to her eyes. She had realized at once that Clo wrote to Leontine because
she dared not use the name of Mrs. Sands. This suggested that she was in
a house where the name of Sands was not unknown. Now, concentrating upon
the queer letter, Beverley understood each veiled hint. Clo wished her
not to "worry." Clo was "picking up all she had lost." Clo "hoped to
call before long, and show what good progress" she had made. All this
could have only one meaning. And how like Clo, to have treasured in some
brain-cell Leontine's queer name of "Rossignol"!

She had written nothing to waken suspicion; and as no house, no street,
was mentioned, there need be no dread of discovery for guilty
consciences. Beverley judged that O'Reilly's name as well as Roger's
might be known to someone near to Clo. Evidently she was afraid to send
a letter to Justin O'Reilly. But the end of the postscript was amazin