CHAPTER IV.





"MR. VOSS," said the waiter as he opened the door of the
breakfast-room.

Mr. and Mrs. Birtwell left the table hurriedly and went to the
parlor. Their visitor was standing in the middle of the floor as
they entered.

"Oh, Mr. Voss, have you heard anything of Archie?" exclaimed Mrs.
Birtwell.

"Nothing yet," he replied.

"Dreadful, dreadful! What can it mean?"

"Don't be alarmed about it," said Mr. Birtwell, trying to speak in
an assuring voice. "He must have gone home with a friend. It will be
all right, I am confident."

"I trust so," replied Mr. Voss. "But I cannot help feeling very
anxious. He has never been away all night before. Something is
wrong. Do you know precisely at what time he left here?"

"I do not," replied Mr. Birtwell. "We had a large company, and I did