The Tracer of Lost Persons

e, wishing he had strength of mind enough to wear it home. But he hadn't. Then he entered the huge white marble palace of his jeweler, left his watch to be regulated, caught a glimpse of a

by his ideal; there always was something wrong somewhere. And, as he strolled moodily, a curious feeling of despair seized him-so

ven-ten-I don't care how many! I want a house to worry me, just as Tommy described it; I want to see the same girl across the breakfast table-or she can sip her cocoa in bed if she desires-

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was going to climb the stairs. He hadn't quite decided what he meant to do after that; nor was his mi

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g carpeted anteroom where a negro attendant bowed him to a seat and

child of twelve, staring open-mouthed at everybody, a bundle of soiled clothing under one arm. Through an open door he saw a dozen young women garbed in black, with white cuffs and collars, all rattling away steadily at typewriters. Every now and then, from some hidden office, a bell rang decisively, and one of the girls would rise from her machine and pass noiselessly out of sight to obey the summ

ummoned. He hadn't the slightest idea of what he was to say; nor did it worry him. A curious sense of impending good fortune left him pleasa

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OF LOS

outs of anybody on earth. No charges will be

on appl

KEEN,

byrinth of demure young women at their typewriters, then sharply to the right and into a big, handsomely furnished office, where a sleepy-looking elderly gentl

. K

certainty which had its charm

Then he said: "I'm searching for somebody,

," said Kee

undertake to find the person I cannot fi

een. "Unless we find the person sought

hat you should undertake it on other terms. I desire

you contemplated?" i

and, do not ask me for detailed information-I mean, do not insist on any information that I decli

ost Persons loo

ation do you decline t

ate and degrade," replied

steel-gray eyes wandered over Gatewood as an expert, a connoisseur, glances at a picture and a

for you, Mr. Gatewood," he said, smi

desire to know somethin

u will consider it entirely inoffensive-if I sa

e, there is the social register

y for us to be almost as well informed as our clients' own lawyers. I could pay you no sincerer compliment than to un

possible indebtedness in

ur check" (he handed Gatewood a fountain pen as the young man fished a check-book

lf; it was his own proposition. Not that he would have for a moment considered the sum as high-or any sum exorbitant-if th

hat would mean a large profit for us. But we might not succeed to-day, or next month, or even next year. That would leave us little or no profit; and, as it is our custom to go on un

d-why do you

?" asked Ke

u are

Gatewood waited, hoping that his case might be declined,

very beautiful and accomplished. Is

know-the truth is I do

ong, Mr. Gatewood, in surmising that this young lady whom

" replied the you

nd-her gene

arm

uld give me a sketch, an idea, a mere outline delic

s are brown. I-I

aid Keen, laughing. "I merely wished to form a

nny color; that'

rown eyes and creamy skin, Mr. Gatewood. I fancy she

Her hands should

ack of fortune-er-we might almost say her pecuniary distress-is more than compensated for by her

ant, anyhow," he

id mea

id:

. . . No haste about the check, my dear

in the check and handed it

an in a low voice. "The lady you describ

tammered Gatew

utton; a moment later a yo

ill you be kind enough to take Mr.

ad risen to confront him-only for a second; then he bowed, matching her perfect acknowledgme

lowed her

is remarkable elderly gentleman suspect that it was to be a hunt for

ized him to entangle himself in such unheard-of negotiations! True, he had played bridge until dawn the night before, but, on awaking, he had discovered no perceptible hold-over. It must hav

typewriter, several comfortable chairs, and a window opening on Fifth Avenue, through which

atched the girl who conducted him with all the unconscious assurance and grace of a y

sed before him with a perceptible inclination of her finely modeled head, seating herself at the desk b