The waiter soon knocked at the door, and Earle stepped just outside to converse with him. He told him something of what had happened during the night, and the man expressed no little surprise at what he heard, and that the long lost Miss Dalton had been concealed in that house. He then asked him if it would be possible for him to give Miss Dalton a better room, and he replied that some of the guests had already departed on an early train, and he should have a first-class room at his disposal in fifteen minutes. A half-hour later Editha was borne into a beautiful apartment, where not long after she and Earle breakfasted together, a heavy burden lifted from both their hearts, while the former, happy in the presence of her lover, seemed to grow brighter, stronger, and more like herself every moment. At eight o’clock Earle bethought himself of his prisoner, he having locked the woman into the room as soon as Editha had been removed. “When I have attended to that matter,” he said, drawing her tenderly to him and kissing her now smiling lips, “I will telegraph immediately to Mr. Dalton; and, darling, when he comes I have some joyful news to tell you both. I do not fear that he will oppose any obstacles to our marriage now. I trust all our troubles are over.” Alas! they could not know that they were standing upon the brink of even a more fearful precipice—about to be plunged into a deeper abyss of grief and trouble than either had yet known. Earle went out for an officer to arrest his prisoners, and, soon returning, proceeded to the rooms where he had left them, as he thought, so secure. Both doors were open! Both birds had flown! CHAPTER XXXI A STORMY INTERVIEW The consternation that Earle and the officers experienced when they discovered that both Tom Drake and his accomplice had escaped, can be better imagined than described. But there was no help for it; the former had undoubtedly had burglars’ instruments in his possession, and while Editha was being removed and attended to, had picked the lock upon the door where he was confined, and then released his companion in mischief and fled. The news that Miss Dalton was at last found, with many of the circumstances attending her discovery, spread like wild-fire, and soon brought numerous friends and acquaintances to see and congratulate her upon the happy event. Mr. Felton was among the first, and the old gentleman appeared as rejoiced to see her as if she had been his own child, and was enthusiastic in his praises of her courage and bravery in refusing to give up the precious document that could alone restore Earle his honor. Mr. Dalton was immediately telegraphed to, and three days later he, also, made his appearance in her room at the hotel.