The Press., 1911-02-22

 at the door last night she was in a very happy mood and that they had agreed to be married in a very short time. That Is hardly the period in a young girls life that would lead her to something so extraordinary as this."
 That's exactly what was saying" said Judge Elliott. My opinion''-
 'Unless," continued Vavin when he had allowed as much of the interrup- ton as he cared for-''unIess something unusual has happened to the young girl Can anybody here suggest any thing unusual that might have happen ed to herr" And he fixed his eye on Aunt Cornelia.
 There was chorus from everybody but that amiable lady to the effect that nothing could possibly have oc- cured that would have led her to leave the house.
 And you," said Vavin, turning sharply to the elder Miss Fullerton, ''do you know anything that could have occurred from the time she left my hotel, from the time she left MT. Holcomb here that would lead her to sit up in her room all night without sleep, lead her to pack her things and say farewell to her hostess in this al- most impolite way"
 It was hard moment for Aunt Cor nelia.
 "I am sure" she answered aggres- sively. "that know of nothing"
 Tt is very remarkable" he said. still watching her intently.
 Like almost all other young men of his class, the first suggestion that came to Graham's mind was the police Vavin held both hands up in horror.
 '"That is so thoroughly Anglo-Saxon," !" he said. "We of the more individual. istic nation, we occasionally endeavoF to do something fol, ourselves. Phis is not a matter for the police"
 But suppose"-began Mrs. Winthrop excitedly-"suppose something dread ful"-
 "We will not suggest anything dread full" said Vavin. "I, who know this young girl, tell you that whatever she has done, whatever her reasons for do ing as she has done, will be done with dignity"
 Holcomb, who had stood by, saying very little, reached out his left hand and grasped the old mars arm thank fully.
 You do not know how much courage you have given me-" he said.
 ''I am no fountain of courage" said Yavin, with a smile, "but have lived sixty-tive years"
 The first question was whether Pro- lessor Fullerton had been communicat- ed with.
 we are waiting for you," said El- nott. "But now that you suggest 1t we shall telegraph him at once."
 "Let us be Americans" said Vavin, let us use your very remarkable tele- phone, but first let us find out by the same system if Miss Fullerton could be in Lenox."
 "You know, Vavin," said Elliott ad- miringly, you would have made a pretty good lawyer"
 Considering the fact, judge, that NJ. VavIn Is the first dramatist of France, that is not the great cOmpli- ment that you intend."
 The bureau of information of the railroad informed them that the first train for Lenox had left at 5:59 and arrived there shortly after Il. It was now a quarter of 12.
 "You see," said Vavin, chow much this may save us. All of the girls childhood was spent in this town, and if she is in trouble what more natural than that she should go there, prob ably to see''-and again he fixed his eagle eye on Cornelia-''to see her father"
 It was Holcomb who undertook with avidIty the task of finding the girl by telephone, and his newspaper training stood him in good stead. She was not at the house, and, disgusting his anxi- ety, he learned from the caretakers that they had heard nothing from her.
 "I'1 get the station master" he said. with his hand over the telephone, and he asked the Lenox operator to change the call, and 1t was only a few min utes before he learned that Dora had arrived in Lenox on the II 10 and had driven away fin a public hack-as the station people thought-to her fathers house.
 ''She has gone to Mrs. Murphy's," 1" snapped Cornelia when this informa- ton was communicated to the gather ing. For once in her life Cornelia's g information was of value, and from the nearest telephone to Mrs. Murphy, who, it seemed, had been a house keeper in the family, word was sent to Dora that NJ. Vavin desired to talk to her.
 "She will come to the telephone when ask her." said Vavin when the others protested that it was hardly likely that a girl who had acted so strangely would suddenly become doc He.
 ''I should like" he said, ito have you do me the favor of allowing me the privilege of speaking perfectly freely to Miss Fullerton when she comes to the telephone and therefore letting me have the room alone"
 The telephone bell rang, and the op- orator said that Miss Fullerton was ready to speak to M. Vavin.
 He bowed to them as they stepped out, holding Holcomb by the arm. "If you please, stay"
 You are in trouble, my dear," he