"Well, I won't detain you any longer, Mr. Clancy," she said, rising. "Mr. Morris is anxious to see you. He is in a very bad nervous condition, and I know you will be careful." Her natural, woman's anxiety spoke in her voice and eyes, and her natural, woman's curiosity prompted her to question: "Did you find out anything new yesterday? Can you give my brother any hope that----" "I don't know, any more than I did before, where Miss Blake is, Mrs. Atterbury," he said, frankly. "But I did find out some things--some things that I hope may prove of value. It was only last night and this morning that I got hold of the information, and I haven't had time really to think it out. But I will say this much to you, Mrs. Atterbury: for almost the first time since I took the case I have hope. I really feel that I have definite hope." His clear, bright blue Irish eyes looked straight into hers, and Helena Atterbury's distaste and distrust melted slowly away. "I pray, for my brother's sake, that your hopes are well founded, Mr. Clancy," she said. "Come. I'll take you up to him." CHAPTER XXI --AND ASKS A QUESTION Peter found his client comfortably ensconced in a long, swinging couch on a wide porch on the second floor. He looked pale and worn and appeared nervously exhausted, but his tired eyes lighted a little as Peter came through the bedroom door. Helena Atterbury tactfully left them alone at once, and Peter was glad to find that there was little difficulty in convincing Donald Morris that he and his staff were in no way responsible for the newspaper article which had caused so much pain and annoyance. "I wouldn't have had it leak out for the world," said Donald, anxiously. "Mrs. Atterbury was furious about the reporters coming to the house, but I wouldn't have minded that so much. What knocked me up completely was the thought of how it would affect Mary. Somehow, that just bowled me over, Clancy. I'm ashamed to say I went all to pieces. You see, her letter to me--well, I'm sure, no matter what happened, she wanted me to wait--to wait till I heard from her." "By the way," said Peter, leaning suddenly forward in his low wicker chair, "that letter--have you got it with you? or anywhere handy? I'd like to look at it again. There's something I want to make sure of----" A quality in Peter's voice caused Morris to look up at him quickly. "What!" he exclaimed. "Have you found out something new? Did you get hold of anything at Hobart Falls yesterday? It seems the most unlikely place in the world, and I haven't the least idea why you went there." "I did--and I didn't," answered Peter, non-committally. "As I just told your sister, I don't know, any more than I did before, where Miss Blake has gone. But I did come across something--something that may help. _Have_ you got the letter?"