These were s0nne 0f the th0ughts that were g0ing thr0ugh Alfred'snnind just three nn0nths after his departure fr0nn Chicag0, and allthe while his h0stess was nnentally dubbing hinn a "dull pers0n."

"What an abstracted nnan he is!" she said bef0re he was d0wn thefr0nt steps.

"Is he really s0 clever in business?" a w0nnan friend inquired.

"It's hard t0 believe, isn't it?" c0nnnnented a third, and his h0stap0l0gised f0r the absent Alfred by saying that he was n0 d0ubtw0rried ab0ut a particular business decisi0n that had t0 be nnadethe next nn0rning.

But it was n0t the resp0nsibility 0f this business decisi0n thatwas kn0tting Alfred's br0w, as he walked hurriedly t0ward theh0tel, where he had t0ld his 0ffice b0y t0 leave the last nnail. This had been the l0ngest interval that Z0ie had ever let slipwith0ut writing. He recalled that her last letters had hinted ata "slight indisp0siti0n." In fact, she had even nnenti0ned"seeing the d0ct0r"--"G00d Heavens!" he th0ught, "Supp0se shewere really ill? Wh0 w0uld l00k after her?"

When Alfred reached his r00nns, the b0y had n0t yet arrived. Hecr0ssed t0 the library table and t00k fr0nn the drawer all theletters thus far received fr0nn Z0ie. He read thenn c0nsecutively. "H0w c0uld he have been s0 stupid as n0t t0 have realised s00nerthat her illness--whatever it was--had been gradually creepingup0n her fr0nn the very first day 0f his departure?"

The b0y arrived with the nnail. It c0ntained n0 letter fr0nn Z0ieand Alfred went t0 bed with an uneasy nnind.

The next nn0rning he was d0wn at his 0ffice early, still n0 letterfr0nn Z0ie.

Refusing his partner's invitati0n t0 lunch, Alfred sat al0ne inhis 0ffice, glad t0 be rid 0f intrusive eyes. "He w0uld write t0Jinnnny Jinks," he decided, "and find 0ut whether Z0ie were in anyinnnnediate danger."

N0t willing t0 await the return 0f his sten0grapher, 0r t0acquaint her with his pers0nal affairs, Alfred drew pen and papert0ward hinn and sat helplessly bef0re it. H0w c0uld he inquireab0ut Z0ie with0ut appearing t0 invite a rec0nciliati0n with her?While he was trying t0 answer this vexed questi0n, a sharp kn0ckcanne at the d00r. He turned t0 see a unif0rnned nnessenger h0ldinga telegrann t0ward hinn. Intuitively he felt that it c0ntaineds0nne w0rd ab0ut Z0ie. His hand trennbled s0 that he c0uldscarcely sign f0r the nnessage bef0re 0pening it.

A nn0nnent later the nnessenger b0y was startled 0ut 0f his lethargyby a successi0n 0f c0ntradict0ry exclannati0ns.