Nothing more had been heard from him. Cable dispatches reported the _Zanzibar_ to be making good time on her way to Southampton, but, until the steamer arrived there, no further details were to be expected. Much, however, had been gleaned as to the fate of the _Abyssinia_, and, as the accounts of disaster began to come in, she could only thank God that he had succeeded in escaping such a fearful fate. The ship had mysteriously caught fire the first day out from Cape Town, and, in the excitement, the crew, as well as the passengers, lost their heads. Only one boat could be lowered, and in this Kenneth got away, together with Francois, his valet, and some other passengers. A news item in connection with the affair, which was of particular interest to Helen, ran as follows: "The loss of the _Abyssinia_ brought to a tragic ending a remarkable romance in which Mr. Kenneth Traynor, one of the rescued passengers and a prominent New York broker, is one of the principal figures. Mr. Traynor is one of two twins so identical in appearance that no one, not even their own mother, knew them apart. One of the children mysteriously disappeared when a mere child and was believed to be dead. Mr. Kenneth Traynor went recently to South Africa on business, and on the diamond fields found in starving condition an unlucky miner who was a perfect counterpart of himself. It was his lost brother. Mutual explanations followed and the identity was established. Overjoyed at the reunion the two brothers sailed for home on the _Abyssinia_. Suddenly came the alarm of fire. While the panic on board was at its worst, the broker lost sight of his brother, whom he never saw again and whom it is only too certain went down with the ship." "It's almost unbelievable, isn't it?" exclaimed Helen, as she read the paragraph for the hundredth time and handed it to Wilbur Steell, who had dropped in to hear if there was any news. Ray, who loved a mystery better than anything else in the world, clapped her hands. "Isn't it perfectly stunning?" "Not for Kenneth's brother--poor fellow," said Helen reprovingly. "He did not live long to enjoy his bettered condition." "That's right. How thoughtless of me!" said Ray contritely. As he finished reading Mr. Steell looked puzzled. Looking toward Helen he asked: "Did you know that your husband had a twin brother?" "I only knew it recently--just before he sailed. He did not know it himself." "How did he find it out?" "His old nurse told him. I was present." "Did the nurse know the brother was in South Africa?" "No--she had no idea of it. I'm sure of that. It's one of those wonderful coincidences one some-times hears of." The lawyer shook his head. Thoughtfully he said: "It's certainly strange--one of the strangest things I ever heard of." "Kenneth will be able to tell us more about it when he comes," said Ray. "Yes--no doubt," asserted her sister quickly.