feeling, he went on to his office more perplexed than ever. Suspicions of
all sorts crowded thickly into his mind, but for every thought that
shadowed the fair reputation of the lady, there came into his mind her
clear eyes and cast out all doubts. Finally, after a bad hour of trying
to work, he slipped the ring on his little finger, determined to wear it
and thus prove to himself his belief in her, at least until he had
absolute proof against her. Then he took up his hat and went out, deciding
to accept Judge Blackwell's invitation to visit his office. He found a
cordial reception, and the Judge talked business in a most satisfactory
manner. His proposals bade fair to bring about some of the dearest wishes
of the young man's heart, and yet as he left the building he was thinking
more about the mysterious stranger who had disappeared from the Judge's
office the day before than about the wonderful good luck that had come to
him in a business way.

They had not talked much about her. The Judge had brought out her hat--a
beautiful velvet one, with exquisite plumes--her gloves, a costly leather
purse, and a fine hemstitched handkerchief, and as he put them sadly away
on a closet shelf, he said no trace of her had as yet been found.

On his way toward his own office, Tryon Dunham pondered the remarkable
coincidence which had made him the possessor of two parts of the same
mystery--for he had no doubt that the hat belonged to the young woman who
had claimed his help the evening before.

* * * * *

Meantime, the girl who was speeding along toward Chicago had not forgotten
him. She could not if she would, for all about her were reminders of him.
The conductor took charge of her ticket, telling her in his gruff, kind