“One begins to be gravely uncertain as to whether he has not been in this house for months, whether he was not the mysterious Mr. Strangeways!” “Jem! Jem!” gasped poor little Miss Temple Barholm, quite white with shock. “And if he was the mysterious Strangeways,” Mr. Grimby assisted to shorten the matter, “the American Temple Barholm apparently knew the fact, brought him here for that reason, and for the same reason kept him secreted and under restraint.” “No! No!” cried Miss Alicia. “Never! Never! I beg you not to say such a thing. Excuse me--I cannot listen! It would be wrong--ungrateful. Excuse me!” She got up from her seat, trembling with actual anger in her sense of outrage. It was a remarkable thing to see the small, elderly creature angry, but this remarkable thing had happened. It was as though she were a mother defending her young. “I loved poor Jem and I love Temple, and, though I am only a woman who never has been the least clever, I know them both. I know neither of them could lie or do a wicked, cunning thing. Temple is the soul of honor.” It was quite an inspirational outburst. She had never before in her life said so much at one time. Of course tears began to stream down her face, while Mr. Palford and Mr. Grimby gazed at her in great embarrassment. “If Mr. Strangeways was poor Jem come back alive, Temple did not know--he never knew. All he did for him was done for kindness' sake. I--I--” It was inevitable that she should stammer before going to this length of violence, and that the words should burst from her: “I would swear it!” It was really a shock to both Palford and Grimby. That a lady of Miss Temple Barholm's age and training should volunteer to swear to a thing was almost alarming. It was also in rather unpleasing taste. “Captain Palliser obliged Mr. Temple Temple Barholm to confess that he had known for some time,” Mr. Palford said with cold regret. “He also informed him that he should communicate with us without delay.” “Captain Palliser is a bad man.” Miss Alicia choked back a gasp to make the protest. “It was after their interview that Mr. Temple Barholm almost immediately left the house.” “Without any explanation whatever,” added Grimby. “He left a few lines for me,” defended Miss Alicia. “We have not seen them.” Mr. Palford was still as well as cold. Poor little Miss Alicia took them out of her pocket with an unsteady hand. They were always with her, and she could not on such a challenge seem afraid to allow them to be read. Mr. Palford took them from her with a slight bow of thanks. He adjusted his glasses and read aloud, with pauses between phrases which seemed somewhat to puzzle him. “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, don't get rattled. “Yours affectionately, “T. TEMBAROM.”