Soon after Peter had gone Morris had motored up the hill to Mrs. Rutherford's cottage, only to be told that she was suffering from a bad headache and had gone to bed. In the morning he had called her up on the telephone, to inquire as to her health, and to ask if he might see her, but found, to his great surprise, that she had gone to town on the morning train. Disappointed and anxious, he felt that he could stand it no longer. The momentary collapse, of which his sister had taken advantage to get him away from town for a time, was practically over. He felt considerably better, but the uncertainty and inaction, combined with Peter's odd behaviour and Mrs. Rutherford's sudden return to New York, made him feel that he must follow them. He had no means of knowing that Clancy was no longer there. He hoped to see him not later than that evening, for he had determined to take the noon train from Tollenville. "I'll be just as comfortable at home as I am here, Helena," he said, when she remonstrated with him. "I'm taking Hobbs back with me and he'll look out for me as well as you could. Don't worry, dear, I'll be much better off at home." He kissed her, gently, and went out to the car which was already waiting to take him to the train. On the evening of the day, then, when Peter arrived at Cordenham, but at a somewhat later hour, Donald Morris reached New York. Late as it was, his first action on arriving was to call Peter's office on the telephone, and he was lucky enough to find O'Malley still there. The old man told him briefly of Peter's sudden departure from the city, and added: "He was in a devil of a rush, and I don't, myself, know what he's up to, Mr. Morris. But he did give me some information which I think would interest you. I've got to go out just now, but I'll be back here by eight o'clock. Lot of work I must make up--and if you could find it convenient to come over after dinner--or I'll come to your house----" "No, no. I'll come to you," said Morris, hastily. "I can, perfectly well, and I think I'd rather be there than anywhere else. Clancy probably thinks I'm still at Fennimore Park, and you'll be likely to get any news there is before I would. I'll come over a little after eight. It's good of you to take the time----" "Not at all, not at all," said O'Malley, cordially. "Wish I had some real good news for you--not that this isn't good, as far as it goes----" Donald therefore made ready to leave his sister's house in Gramercy Park a little before eight that evening. Somewhat encouraged by O'Malley's cheerful tone, and the fact that news, good news as far as it went, awaited him, he had dined with more appetite than he had known for several days. As the hands of the tall clock in the hall marked the hour of seven-forty-five, having noted from his window that the taxi he had summoned to take him to O'Malley's office was already drawn up at the curb, he descended the stairs from his room, expecting to leave the house at once.