Perhaps it were better not to attempt to describe with faithfulness of
detail the reception given Mr. Stanlock by his wife and family on his
return home shortly before 9 o'clock that night. The fear that
something of serious nature had intervened to prevent his appearing at
the usual dinner hour had taken firm hold of Mrs. Stanlock, Marion,
sister Kathryn, and brother Harold. The fact that the police had been
searching for him for two hours or more and had been unable to make
any hopeful report, had not tended in the least to relieve the tension
of suspense, which became almost unbearable.

Then came the vague announcement from Mr. Stanlock's stenographer at
the latter's home that he had been called away somewhere, but left no
definite information. He had been called unexpectedly and left in a
hurry. That was all the stenographer could say.

This information was communicated to the police, who increased the
family's alarm by asking a string of questions over the telephone
indicating the most direful suspicions. Had Mr. Stanlock seen or heard
anything which caused him to believe that the strikers might do him
bodily harm if they had an opportunity? Had he received any
threatening letters? Had he appeared nervous or was there anything in
his manner which indicated that he was apprehensive of trouble not
already well known to the public?

Marion and her mother answered some of these questions over the
telephone and half an hour later a police lieutenant called at the
house and made further inquiry. There was no longer any possibility of
dodging the most logical suspicions, namely, that Mr. Stanlock was the
victim of a decoy plotted by some criminal element working with or