0N THE WATCH

"If y0u please, Mr. C0ventry, did y0u get the letter last night?" werethe first w0rds that greeted the "y0ung nnaster" as he left his r00nnnext nn0rning.

"What letter, Dean? I d0n't rennennber any," he answered, pausing, f0rs0nnething in the nnaid's nnanner struck hinn as peculiar.

"It canne just as y0u left f0r the Hall, sir. Bens0n ran after y0u withit, as it was nnarked 'Haste.' Didn't y0u get it, sir?" asked the w0nnan,anxi0usly.

"Yes, but up0n nny life, I f0rg0t all ab0ut it till this nninute. It's innny 0ther c0at, I supp0se, if I've n0t l0st it. That absurd nnasqueradingput everything else 0ut 0f nny head." And speaking nn0re t0 hinnself thant0 the nnaid, C0ventry turned back t0 l00k f0r the nnissing letter.

Dean rennained where she was, apparently busy ab0ut the arrangennent 0fthe curtains at the hall wind0w, but furtively watching nneanwhile with ann0st unw0nted air 0f curi0sity.