"Yes, of course," said Mr. Billings; "he could not hold me
after such proof as that, and Lemuel ran me up to my office,
where I changed my hat and took off the dress. I knew it was
late, and I did not know what train I could catch, but I made
haste, and, on the way down in the elevator, I felt in my pocket
to see if I had my commutation ticket, when my hand struck the
patent nursing-bottle. My first impulse was to drop it in the
car, but on second thought I decided to keep it, for I knew that
when you saw it and heard the story you would understand
perfectly why I was detained last night."

"Yes?" said Mrs. Billings questioningly. "But, my dear, all
that does not account for these."

As she said that she drew from her workbasket the three
auburn-red curls.

"Oh, those!" said Mr. Billings, after a momentary hesitation.
"I was about to tell you about those."

"Do so!" said Mrs. Billings coldly. "I am listening."

II. THE THREE AUBURN-RED CURLS


When I went down in the elevator (said Mr. Billings) with the
nursing-bottle in my pocket, I had no thought but to get to the
train as soon as possible, for I saw by the clock in my office
that I had just time to catch the eleven-nine if I should not be