“Then there is no knowing where she is now?” said Dr. Brookes, hastily. “The brave girl may have been imposed upon by the drunken woman! Have you any idea what address she gave her?” Bert Jackson looked crestfallen for about a minute, then a ray of joy illumined his features. “I wasn’t near enough to hear the address,” he said, quickly. “You see, I was riding by with my adopted father, and it was only by a good bit of coaxing that I made him let me off, but a man in the crowd told me that the woman was May Osgood, and that she was an actress from some theatre or other.” “Great Heavens! Greenaway’s sweetheart!” cried Reginald Brookes, “and drunk on the street!” As the others were staring at him, he hastened to explain, and before he had finished another peal of the bell startled them. “This is surely Marion!” cried Dollie, darting down the stairs. But once more she was doomed to bitter disappointment, for half way down the first flight she met Mr. Ray and his sister, both pale as ghosts, and Adele almost crying. “Oh, what is it?” gasped Dollie, who thought only of her sister. “Has anything happened? Have you heard from Marion?” Not even Miss Allyn thought to introduce the two gentlemen, but without a moment’s hesitation Mr. Ray stepped straight up to the doctor. “You and Bert must come with me right away!” he said, quickly. “Miss Marlowe has been inveigled into an awful trap, and it depends on us to get her out of it!” “I’m ready!” cried Bert, clenching his fists and setting his teeth. “Lead the way!” said Dr. Brookes, snatching up his hat immediately. “Have you a revolver?” was Mr. Ray’s astonishing question. Miss Allyn rushed to her trunk and brought out a small weapon. “I keep it for burglars; it’s better than nothing,” she said, briefly; “but how about the police? Can’t they aid you in this matter?” “They would only bungle it,” was Mr. Ray’s evasive reply. “Marion has been lured into the apartments of a wicked woman and while I do not fear that she will meet with bodily harm——” Miss Allyn interrupted him before he could finish. “Go, at once!” she said, quickly, “we will be calm and wait for you.” As the three young men tramped noisily down the stairs, poor, frightened Dollie went promptly into hysterics. “Hush! Don’t cry, Dollie!” said Miss Allyn, sternly. “If those three young men who love Marion cannot save her, I shall be greatly mistaken; besides, if you cry so you will not be able to hear what Miss Ray tells me, and I am sure you wish to know what has happened to your sister!” Dollie stifled her sobs, and wiped her eyes. In a few moments she was quiet and ready to listen. “I’ll tell you all I know as quickly as possible,” Adele Ray said, brokenly; “and Oh, girls, I want your sympathy for my poor, dear brother!” CHAPTER VII. A BROTHER’S STORY. Adele Ray was as pale as death when she spoke again, but her hands were clenched in a resolute manner.