“No odds,” said Whitford, “except--that we’d have missed this party!” They played bridge afterward, though Whitford said it would be more fun to match dollars. The bridge was well under way when the maid passed down the hall to answer the bell. “Just a minute, Annie!” Constance laid down her cards and deliberated. “What’s the trouble, Connie? Is Shep slipping in on us?” asked Mrs. Burton. “Hardly,” replied Constance, plainly disturbed by the interruption. “Oh, Annie, don’t let anyone in you don’t know.” They waited in silence for the opening of the door. In a moment Franklin Mills’s voice was heard asking if Mr. and Mrs. Mills were at home. “Um!” With a shrug Constance rose hastily and met Mills at the door. “I’d like to see you just a moment, Connie,” he said without prelude. Whitford and Bruce had risen. Mills bowed to them and to Mrs. Burton, but behind the mask of courtesy his face wore a haggard look. Constance followed him into the hall where their voices--Mills’s low and tense--could be heard in hurried conference. In a moment Constance went to the hall telephone and called a succession of numbers. “The club--Freddy Thomas’s rooms----” muttered Whitford. “Wonder what’s up----” They exchanged questioning glances. Whitford idly shuffled and reshuffled the cards. “He’s looking for Leila. Do you suppose----” began Mrs. Burton in a whisper. “You’re keeping score, aren’t you, Storrs?” asked Whitford aloud. They began talking with forced animation about the game to hide their perturbation over Mills’s appearance and his evident concern as to Leila’s whereabouts. “Mr. Thomas is at the club,” they heard Constance report. “He dined there alone.” “You’re sure Leila’s not been here--she’s not here now?” Mills demanded irritably. “I haven’t seen Leila at all today,” Constance replied with patient deliberation. “I’m so sorry you’re troubled. She’s probably stopped somewhere for dinner and forgotten to telephone.” “She usually calls me up. That’s what troubles me,” Mills replied, “not hearing from her. There’s no place else you’d suggest?” “No----” “Thank you, Connie. Shep’s still away?” “Yes. He’ll be back tomorrow.” Mills paused in the doorway and bowed to the trio at the card table. “I’m sorry I interrupted your game!” he said, forcing a smile. “Do pardon me!” He turned up the collar of his fur-lined coat and fumbled for the buttons. There seemed to Bruce a curious helplessness in the slow movement of his fingers. Constance followed him to the outer door, and as it closed upon him walked slowly back into the living room. “That’s a pretty how-d’ye-do! Leila ought to have a whipping! It’s after eight and nothing’s been seen of her since noon. But she hasn’t eloped--that’s one satisfaction! Freddy’s at the club all right enough.” “She’s certainly thrown a scare into her father,” remarked Mrs. Burton. “He looked positively ill.”