“Less than half an hour. We notified you immediately.” “I will have just a word with them,” said Nick. “Command me in any way, Carter, if I can be of service,” Margate artfully pleaded, briefly checking him. “Presently,” Nick nodded. “I will see you again in a moment.” He hastened into the library with the last, where he found both Clayton and his wife, the latter in tears and both ghastly with consternation and anxiety. Nick said what he could to encourage them, at the same time hurriedly inspecting the letter left by Martha Dryden, and he then observed that Margate had followed him into the room. This was precisely what he had anticipated--and wanted. “What have you done, Clayton, beyond sending for me?” he abruptly inquired. “Nothing whatever,” Clayton declared, with a groan. “I’m all upset. I know not what to do.” “One thing must be done without delay, then, for a starter,” said Nick. “We must try to trace the missing woman.” “That’s what I have advised,” Margate said quickly. “Certainly. That’s the first step to be taken.” “I will go with you, Carter, and----” Clayton began. “No, no, don’t think of it,” Nick interrupted decidedly. “You are in no fit condition for such work. Besides, it will require only two or three to effectively cover the ground. I have my chauffeur, and Garside no doubt will be glad to aid me.” “Most assuredly,” Margate cried, eyes lighting. “We should, I think, start in at once.” “We will do so,” said Nick, turning. “You remain here with your wife, Clayton, till we have ended our search. That will not take long. If it proves futile, I then will decide what next must be done. Come with me, Garside. We’ll pick up Danny on our way out.” They left the house by the side door, Nick quickly informing Danny of their mission, while Margate pointedly observed: “Your chauffeur had better go one way, Carter, while we take another direction. Why not let him tackle the front street?” “Because there is no need of that.” “Why no need of it?” Margate frowned quickly. “Because Madame Clayton did not go that way,” Nick explained, now shaping his course in accord with what he thought the rascal really wanted. “She would surely have been seen and detained, if not recognized and brought back here. It is safe to assume that she went through the rear street, where there are few persons even during the day, and only scattered dwellings.” “That’s right, Carter, after all,” declared Margate, with face lighting. “She must have gone that way.” “It’s that way for us, therefore,” said Nick, while they walked rapidly through the rear grounds, quickly reaching the deserted street. “Danny now can go one way, Garside, while we go the other.” “Let him go to the right, then, while we seek her in this direction,” Margate quickly suggested, pointing in the direction of the Busby place, less than an eighth of a mile away. Nick consented without a moment’s hesitation. “Come on, then,” said he. “That way for you, Danny.”