"If any one should know about Miss Collier, you are the person," returned the pitcher. "Janet has scarcely heard from her since she sailed with her father. We supposed you were corresponding with her regularly." Parlmee drew him toward a leather-covered settee. "I'm pegged out," he admitted, and he looked it. "Business forced me to run on or I'd not be here now. I'm going back to New York to-night. Do you know, I've received only two letters from Virginia since she reached the other side, one from London, the other from Eaux Chaudes, in France. The latter was posted more than a month ago. It stated that Virginia and her father were leaving Eaux Chaudes for Italy. Since then no letters have come from her." "Do you mean to say you haven't an idea where Miss Collier and her father are at the present time?" Parlmee lighted a cigarette. His hands were not steady. "I haven't an idea where Charles Collier is. As for Virginia, she cabled me that she was sailing on the _Victoria_, which reached New York four days ago. I was at the pier to meet her, but she didn't arrive, and her name was not on the passenger list." Lefty uttered an exclamation. "That was strange!" The other man turned on the settee to face him. "The whole thing has been queer. I had practically overcome Mr. Collier's prejudice and won his entire approval. Then he broke down; his health went to the bad, and his manner toward me seemed to change. I had an idea he went abroad more to take Virginia away than for any other reason. Anyway, I knew there was something wrong, and the two letters I got from her added to that conviction. Her father was trying to get her to break with me! There was another man whom he preferred." "Another!" "Yes, Bailey Weegman." Locke gave a great start, as if he had received an electric thrust. "Weegman!" he cried guardedly. "That scoundrel! Collier is crazy, Parlmee!" "Now you've said something! I believe the man's mind is affected. Business reverses may have done it." "Do you know that he left his baseball interests practically in the control of Weegman?" "No; but it doesn't surprise me. In some way, that scoundrel has got a hold on him. Weegman has tried hard to undermine me with Virginia. I've always disliked him and his detestable laugh. Who is he, anyway? Where did he come from, and what are his antecedents?" "You'll have to ask somebody else." "It's Virginia I'm worrying about now," said Parlmee, tossing aside his half-smoked cigarette. "But if she was contemplating sailing for the United States with her father--" "Her cablegram to me didn't mention her father. I got the impression that she was sailing alone." "Alone! Great Scott!" "And she didn't sail! Where is she? What happened to her? Do you wonder I'm rattled? I've made arrangements so that I can have a month, if necessary, to dig into this business. If that isn't enough, I'll take all the time needed. It's the deuce to pay, Locke, as sure as you're a foot high."