Utter silence succeeded his noiseless departure. Even the storm
lulled for a moment. Dale stood thinking, wondering, searching
desperately for some way to help her lover.

At last a resolution formed in her mind. She went to the city
telephone.

"Hello," she said in a low voice, glancing over her shoulder now
and then to make sure she was not overheard. "1-2-4--please--yes,
that's right. Hello--is that the country club? Is Mr. Richard
Fleming there? Yes, I'll hold the wire."

She looked about nervously. Had something moved in that corner of
blackness where her candle did not pierce? No! How silly of her!

Buzz-buzz on the telephone. She picked up the receiver again.

"Hello--is this Mr. Fleming? This is Miss Ogden--Dale Ogden. I
know it must seem odd my calling you this late, but--I wonder if
you could come over here for a few minutes. Yes--tonight." Her
voice grew stronger. "I wouldn't trouble you but--it's awfully
important. Hold the wire a moment." She put down the phone and
made another swift survey of the room, listened furtively at the
door--all clear! She returned to the phone.

"Hello--Mr. Fleming--I'll wait outside the house on the drive.
It--it's a confidential matter. Thank you so much."

She hung up the phone, relieved--not an instant too soon, for, as