“Clayton has disappeared,” choked Vandyke. “He cannot be found. His bride also is missing. Neither of them are in their rooms, nor----” “Good God! Has the blow fallen?” Mr. Langham staggered as if he had, indeed, received a brutal blow. Nick Carter immediately took the ribbons. “Don’t create a stir!” he commanded quickly. “Leave me to look into the matter. Since both are missing, they may have departed together, bent upon eluding their very zealous friends and a deluge of confetti.” “That cannot be, Nick,” Vandyke hurriedly protested. “Clayton’s suit case is still in his room. He would have taken it with him, of course, if he----” “Leave it to me. Don’t alarm the guests needlessly.” “But some of them already know----” Nick did not wait for more. He brushed by the two men, and, outwardly perfectly calm, hastened through the crowded hall toward the main stairway. Both Chick Carter and Patsy Garvan then were on the main floor of the vast house, the former near the open front door, where, both in the hall and on the granite steps and the broad veranda outside, scores of guests had gathered to speed the happy couple on their wedding journey. Chick saw Nick approaching and caught the ominous gleam in his expressive eyes. “What’s up?” he asked quietly, hastily meeting him. Nick now said what he really thought. “That devil has got in his work again.” “Not Margate?” “I fear so. Both bride and groom are missing.” “The deuce you say!” “Nothing could have been pulled off, however, under the eyes of this mob on the steps and veranda. Slip around to the side door and see what you can learn,” Nick hurriedly directed. “Keep your eyes open and nail any one acting suspiciously. Get word to Patsy and send him to the rear door. The trick may not have been turned yet. They can have been missing only a few minutes.” “I’m wise,” Chick nodded, starting for the side hall and the broad exit under the massive porte-cochère. Nick hastened to the second floor and toward the two rear rooms used by the bride and groom that evening, those in front having been needed to accommodate the throng of guests. Nick discovered a solitary bridesmaid near the door of Clara’s room, and somewhat apart from the group of women then near the stairs. She happened to be one with whom he was acquainted, and he hurriedly approached her. “What’s this I hear, Miss Arden?” he said quietly. “What do you know about it?” “Little enough, Mr. Carter,” she replied, pale and mystified. “I only know that Clara sent us all from her room after she was dressed for her journey. She explained that her father wanted to see her privately before she left, and that she was momentarily expecting him. We left her alone, therefore, and went downstairs.” “You mean yourself and the other bridesmaids?” “Yes, sir.” “How long ago was that?” “Not more than ten minutes; hardly as long, I think.” “Who discovered her absence?”