To tell the truth John Ryder was so utterly amazed that he could not reply to the house detective. He scarcely knew what she meant by her innuendo; yet he felt rising anger. She seemed to have doubted the status of Ruth and himself as a properly wedded pair! Nightmare? It was a saturnalia of misunderstanding and vexing incidents! John Ryder would have been glad right then and there to take Ruth and escape from the Pinewood Inn, even if they had to walk through the night to some other shelter. Later he wished with all his heart that he had done just that. CHAPTER XII SOME EXPERIENCES OF A BRIDEGROOM John Ryder, just here, hearing voices and laughter--even the clink of glasses--from the floor below, felt a desire for human society--for speech with sane people. His mind was in such a chaotic condition that he was not sure whether these recent remarkable incidents had really happened to him, or he had dreamed them. He arrived at the top of the broad flight leading down to the foyer. There were candles glimmering at the clerk's desk beside the bracket lamp, and several of the guests were keeping George company. Jimson was one; there were three men whom Ryder had not before particularly noticed; and there was White, the man of mystery. The latter was sitting rather sullenly with the others, sipping some concoction in a tall glass--which, indeed, they were all doing. If for no other reason than to get a closer look at John B. White, Ryder joined the party. He was welcomed vociferously by the clerk. Jimson considered it was up to him to pacify the man he had so foolishly and impulsively insulted. "Hope you'll let me mix you one, Mr. Ryder," Jimson said. "Just to show there's no hard feelings, you know." "Go ahead," Ryder said, conscious that White was watching him with clouded eyes. Indeed, the man seemed unable to keep his gaze off John Ryder. "How's Mrs. Judson?" asked George, with a knowing grin. "Confound her!" ejaculated the bridegroom. "She's turned me out of house and home." "Ho, ho! And you a newly married man!" cackled one of the crowd. "On his honeymoon," said Jimson. Then he blew a sigh. "Well, it might be worse, Mr. Ryder. You don't know what it is to have an invalid wife." "Or a heavyweight, like the Lady Judson," chuckled another. Ryder showed he was not deeply interested in these witticisms. George said rather lamely: "Well, a man's got to make way for the ladies." "Especially when they are hysterical," Jimson added. "I remember when my wife----" He started on a story that did not interest Ryder in the least. He was the host--it was his private bottle they were sampling--so the clerk and all but White and Ryder gave the narrator some attention. White rose up suddenly and tapped John Ryder on the shoulder. "I beg your pardon, Mr.--er--did I catch your name?" "Ryder."