“I think so,” said Nick. “We came near missing it, however, for it’s at one side of the path.” “They may have strayed a little from it in the darkness.” “Probably.” “The path is too hard to retain an imprint.” “We may find others farther on,” said Nick. “It’s a hundred to one that this was caused by the boot of the missing girl. Notice the stylish length and pointed heel.” “It seems to be a cinch.” “She was going this way,” Nick added. “We’ll take the same direction.” He glanced at his watch while they hurried on. It then was half past four. They were the only two persons out at that early hour, but a myriad of feathered songsters were thrilling the woodland, which the beams of the rising sun now had begun to penetrate. Fifty yards brought them to the gravel road mentioned, of which both began to make a careful inspection. There were tracks to be seen, those of wagons, carriages, and automobile tires; so many of them, in fact, that nothing definite could be determined from them. “Nothing denotes that a conveyance of any kind remained here for a time,” Chick observed, after a vain scrutiny. “It ordinarily would have been left on one side of the road.” “We’ll seek in each direction,” said Nick. “I’ll go this way, you that. If you discover anything reliable, whistle to me.” “Enough said,” replied Chick, as they parted. Nick had covered about fifty yards in an easterly direction, vainly inspecting each side of the road, when he suddenly made another discovery. Somewhat ahead of him, lying near the wheel tracks on one side, was what appeared to be a scrap of cloth. Nick hastened to pick it up. It was about two square inches of dainty lace, evidently torn from--a navy-blue veil. Nick turned back instantly and whistled to Chick, who hastened to rejoin him. “What is it?” he inquired, when Nick displayed his find. “The bride wore a navy-blue veil,” said he significantly. “Oh, by Jove, that does settle it.” “It certainly does, Chick, and it’s a pleasure to serve such a girl,” Nick said, with some enthusiasm. “You mean----” “Why, it’s as plain as the hole in a doughnut. She was taken away in a carriage or a motor car. She sat on one end of the seat, and she had discovered the knavery of which she was the victim.” “Why are you so sure of it?” “Simply, Chick, because this bit of lace shows that it was deliberately torn from one corner of the veil. It is torn in two directions.” “I see.” “Plainly, then, the girl herself tore it off,” Nick continued. “No one else would have done it. Nor would she, Chick, unless she had discovered her perilous situation.” “Surely not,” Chick now declared. “I see the point.” “She contrived to tear it off without being detected, however, and then dropped it in the road.” “To show to searchers in which direction she was being carried.” “Exactly.” “By Jove, you are right,” Chick cried approvingly. “It is, indeed, a pleasure to serve such a girl.”