Ah, ha! here was a literary lady,--a contributor to the story or other papers,--wrote a good hand, and in good style of composition; was evidently on loving terms with Childs. I was in doubt whether mistress or only ardent lover; could not tell that till I should see her, if then. She must be seen. How to find her? Easy enough, perhaps, but maybe not. We left Mr. Childs's room in good order, and separated for the night, I giving Mr. Redfield no more insight into the modes I intended to pursue next day than necessary. The next morning I started for the newspaper offices with a portion of one of the letters I had found, made a proper story of wishing to engage the literary services of the writer of the letter if I could find her, but that I knew not her name; as her friend, who had given me the portion of the letter to show her style, and had not yet given me her name, had been called off to New York by telegraph, I found,--wanted to find her that day. At the first office I entered nobody could tell me anything. But on entering the second one, and finding the associate editor, and asking him if he recognized that writing, he looked up and smiled, as if he thought I had a joke for him. "I guess I do," said he. "Well," said I, "there's a dispute about it." "Let's see," said he, in a hasty, nervous way, snatching it from my hand, and glancing at it again. "No dispute about it; that's our ---- ----" (using her _nom de plume_, which I won't repeat, as she is probably living, and many old friends might recognize her in this tale, and learn more than they are entitled to know). "Where can I find her?" said I; "I want to see her about some writing." "All right," said he, making some marks on a paper, which I found to be name of street and number of house. "There's where she was the last I knew of her, two months ago. I think you can find her through that." "Would you give me a note to her, as I am a stranger?" "Why yes, such as I could. I don't know your name; but stay--no," said he; "give me that paper again;" and taking it, he put his initials to it, and the name of office and date of day. "That will be enough--good as a more formal note," said he; and he caught up his pen, and proceeded as if something was on his mind. "You must excuse me, sir; I have a great deal to do to-day. Can I assist you any further now?"