"He was for taking the boy out into the mining country with him too. I supposed he had until I got this frantic cable from Irene. They'd sent her word about Dick's sudden end,--he always did have a weak heart, you know,--and something about the high altitude got him. Went off like that. But Irene was demanding of me to tell her where the boy was. Of course I didn't know. I did my best to find him, hunted high and low. I traced Dick to Goldfield. No use. The boy was not with him when he went West. Where he had left him was a mystery that----" Buz-z-z-z! goes the front doorbell, right in the middle of Mr. Ballard's story, and in comes Lizzie sayin' it's someone to see me. For a second I couldn't think who'd be huntin' me up here at this time of the evenin'. And then I remembered,--Dorsett. "It--it's an uncle of mine," says I to Zenobia, "a reg'lar uncle." "Why," says she, "I didn't know you had one." "Me either," says I, "until the other day. He just turned up. Could I take him into the libr'y?" "Of course," says Zenobia. I was kind of sorry he'd come. I hadn't been so chesty over Uncle Bill at the office; but here, where things are sort of quiet and classy--well, I could see where he wouldn't show up so strong. Besides, I hadn't made up my mind just how I was goin' to turn down his proposition. I towed him in, though. He was glancin' around the room approvin', and makin' a few openin' remarks, when the folks come strollin' out from the dinin'-room. I glances up, and sees Mr. Ballard just as he's about to pass the door. So does Dorsett. And, say, the minute them two spots each other things sort of hung fire and stopped. Dorsett he breaks short off what he's sayin', and Mr. Ballard comes to a halt and stands starin' in the room. Next I know he's pushed in, and they're facin' each other. "Pardon me, Sir," says Ballard, "but didn't you cross with me on the _Lucania_ once? And weren't you thick with Dick Ballard?" Course I could see something coming right then; but I didn't know what it was. Mr. Dorsett's shifty eyes take another look at Ballard, and then he hitches uneasy in his chair. "Rather an odd coincidence, isn't it?" says he. "Yes, I was on board that trip." "Then you're one of the men I've been looking for a good many years," says Ballard. "You knew Dick very well, didn't you? Then perhaps you can tell me who he left that boy of his with when he went West?" "Why, yes," says Dorsett, smilin' fidgety. "He--er--the fact is, he left him with me." "With you, eh?" says Ballard. "I might have guessed as much. Well, Sir, where's the boy now?" "Wha-a-at?" gasps Dorsett, lookin' from me to Mr. Ballard. "Where, did you say?" "Yes, Sir," comes back Ballard snappy. "Where?" More gasps from Dorsett. But he's good at duckin' trouble. With a wink at me and a chuckle he remarks: "Torchy, suppose you tell the gentleman where you are?"