chen, doing some menial task.

He took his leave early in the evening and hurried back to his hotel. As
he crossed the street to hail a cab, he thought he saw a short, baggy
figure shambling along in the shadow on the other side, looking up at the
house.

He had professed to have business to attend to, but when he reached his
room he could do nothing but sit down and think. That he had found her for
whom he had so long sought filled him with a deeper joy than any he had
ever known before. That he had found her in such a position deepened the
mystery and filled him with a nameless dread. Then out of the shadow of
his thoughts shambled the baggy man in the rubbers, and he could not rest,
but took his hat and walked out again into the great rumbling whirl of the
city night, walking on and on, until he again reached the house where he
had dined.

He passed in front of the building, and found lights still burning
everywhere. Down the side street, he saw the windows were brightly lighted
in the servants' quarters, and loud laughter was sounding. Was she in
there enduring such company? No, for there high in the fourth story
gleamed a little light, and a shadow moved about across the curtain.
Something told him that it was her room. He paced back and forth until the
light went out, and then reverently, with lifted hat, turned and found his
way back to the main avenue and a car line. As he passed the area gate a
bright light shot out from the back door, there was a peal of laughter, an
Irish goodnight, and a short man in baggy coat and rubbers shambled out
and scuttled noiselessly down to the back street.

[Illustration]




X


Dunham slept very little that night. His soul was hovering between joy and
anxiety. Almost he was inclined to find some way to send her word about
the man he had seen lingering about the place, and yet perhaps it was
foolish. He had doubtless been to call on the cook, and there might be no
connection whatever between what Dunham had heard and seen and the l