"DEAR ROY: "Just a few lines to give you the surprise of your life. I have found that our old friend, Doctor Garnet, was not lost in the quicksands, as you supposed. On the contrary, he is here in France, doing noble, wonderful work in the branch of his profession that he always loved--surgery. I understand that he has been decorated several times. And also, strange to say, he is going under his own name. I am sending this news to you instead of to Ethel direct, because I feared the effect of a sudden shock on her. You can break the information to her gently. "With love to the dear girl, "Your father, "STEPHEN MARION." Roy had little alarm lest his wife should suffer any ill effect from what she would regard as the best of news. "My dear," he asked at once, "would you be greatly surprised to get authentic information that Gifford Garnet is alive and doing wonders in his profession of surgery? Would you believe it, if I should tell you that he has been several times decorated for his services on the battle front in France?" To his astonishment, Ethel showed no extraordinary excitement, though her face grew radiant. "No, Roy," she replied, "I should not be surprised, but I should be very glad!" "Your answer sounds strange to me," Roy declared, with a puzzled glance across the table. "Anyhow, you are calm enough so that I don't need to hesitate in telling you that your father's letter to me actually contains this astonishing news." "Thank God, Roy!" Ethel said reverently. "The madman has become sane again. Thank God, he did obey my sealed orders." Roy stared at his wife in open bewilderment. "What on earth do you mean, Ethel?" he demanded. "Have you been keeping something from me?" "Yes, my dear husband, I've been guilty of just that thing. I've just been waiting and praying for the hour when I could come to you and give you the very information that father has been able to send you. I'll tell you the whole story. But, first, I must exact a promise. For Ichabod's sake, as well as my own, you must not breathe a word of the truth to Arthur Van Dusen." Still mightily wondering as to the meaning of all this mystery and eager for its solution, Roy readily gave the required promise that he would keep Ethel's secret. Thereupon she told him the story.