“The wire's from Sir Ormsby Galloway, Pearson,” he said. “It's about Mr. Strangeways. He's done what I used to be always watching out against: he's disappeared.” “Disappeared, sir!” cried Pearson, and almost dropped the Gladstone bag. “I beg pardon, sir. I know there's no time to lose.” He steadied the bag and went on with his task without even turning round. His master was in some difficulty. He began to write, and after dashing off a few words, stopped, and tore them up. “No,” he muttered, “that won't do. There's no time to explain.” Then he began again, but tore up his next lines also. “That says too much and not enough. It'd frighten the life out of her.” He wrote again, and ended by folding the sheet and putting it into an envelop. “This is a message for Miss Alicia,” he said to Pearson. “Give it to her in the morning. I don't want her to worry because I had to go in a hurry. Tell her everything's going to be all right; but you needn't mention that anything's happened to Mr. Strangeways.” “Yes, sir,” answered Pearson. Mr. Temple Barholm was already moving about the room, doing odd things for himself rapidly, and he went on speaking. “I want you and Rose to know,” he said, “that whatever happens, you are both fixed all right--both of you. I've seen to that.” “Thank you, sir,” Pearson faltered, made uneasy by something new in his tone. “You said whatever happened, sir--” “Whatever old thing happens,” his master took him up. “Not to you, sir. Oh, I hope, sir, that nothing--” Mr. Temple Barholm put a cheerful hand on his shoulder. “Nothing's going to happen that'll hurt any one. Things may change, that's all. You and Rose are all right, Miss Alicia's all right, I'm all right. Come along. Got to catch that train.”' In this manner he took his departure. Miss Alicia had from necessity acquired the habit of early rising at Rowcroft vicarage, and as the next morning was bright, she was clipping roses on a terrace before breakfast when Pearson brought her the note. “Mr. Temple Barholm received a telegram from London last night, ma'am,” he explained, “and he was obliged to take the midnight train. He hadn't time to do any more than leave a few lines for you, but he asked me to tell you that nothing disturbing had occurred. He specially mentioned that everything was all right.” “But how very sudden!” exclaimed Miss Alicia, opening her note and beginning to read it. Plainly it had been written hurriedly indeed. It read as though he had been in such haste that he hadn't had time to be clear. Dear little Miss Alicia: I've got to light out of here as quick as I can make it. I can't even stop to tell you why. There's just one thing--don't get rattled, Miss Alicia. Whatever any one says or does, just don't let yourself get rattled. Yours affectionately, T. TEMBAROM. “Pearson,” Miss Alicia exclaimed, again looking up, “are you sure everything is all right?” “That was what he said, ma'am. `All right,' ma'am.”