The Mystery of Mary

involved the gathering of evidence from Chicago and thereabouts, and it was with pleasure that Judge Blac

feel that if he could ever hope to shake off his anxiety and get back to his normal state of mind, he must find her and unravel the mystery about her. If she were safe and had friends, so that he was not needed, perhaps he would be able to p

ow in his heart that this was the real mission for which he had come to Chicago,

the daily papers, having laid various plans by which she might safely c

kindly communicate with T. Dun

say to the lady who dined with her October 8th. Ki

can speak with you about a matter of

ound himself running wild-goose chases after different Marys and M.R.s, he abandoned all hope of personal columns in the newspapers. Then he began a systematic searc

miseries he was troubled over what might have become of her-"Mary." It came to pass that whenever he looked upon the face of a young woman, no matter how pinched and worn with poverty, he dreaded lest she might have come to this pass, and be in actual need. As these thoughts went on day by day, he came to feel that she was his by a God-given right, his

had set himself. When at last he finished the legal business he had come for, and might go home, he lingered ye

with a sad heart he went toward the hotel where he had been stopping. H

, who welcomed him warmly, for far and wide among legal men the fir

me two days ago. Suppose you come home to dinner with me. I've a matter I'd like to talk

n in front of the handsome house where he was to be a guest, two men passed slowly by, like shadows out of place, and there floated t

g window showed his face to be dark and handsome. The other was short and stout, and clad in a faded Prince Albert coat that bagged at shoulders and elbows. H

e talk was of pleasant things that go to make up the world of refinement; but the mind of the

he looked up a

uiet, watchful attitude, but her eyes had been unconscious

r rose in her cheeks, and she

n, and at first he had noticed only the likeness to her for whom he was searching. But

to know at a glance just what was needed. Whenever she went from the room he tried to persuade himself that it was not she, and then became feverishly impatient for her return that he might anew convince himself that it was. He felt a helpless rage at the son of the house for the fami

s host was plying him, and his replies were distraught an

mething that I ought to attend to at once. I wonder if the waitress would be kind

ld you like to go to the 'phone yourself, or can I

had taken from his pocket, and he handed it to the waitress, who at

e the message below. They will understand,

turned again to his dessert

e click of the telephone and the low, gentle voice in an adjoining room. It came after only a moment's pause, and he wondered at the calmness with which the usual formula of the teleph

ost must see the strained look in his face, but he tried

rd, and he knew that if the girl were not the one of who

e where and when I can talk with yo

him demurely. He picked it up and eagerly read the delicate writing-hers-the same that had expressed her thanks and told

ding it would have thought twice about it. If the guest

g, small parlor,

uld have any interest for him. Now suddenly his heart warmed to the great organization of Chri

did not return. When they went into the other room, his interest in the family grew less and less. The daughter of the house sat down at the piano, after leading him up to ask her to sing, and chirped through several sentimental songs, tinkling out a sh

e crossed the street to hail a cab, he thought he saw a short, baggy figur

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 ma

igh 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 t