“Yes, I’ve heard that done on the vaudeville stage,” said Olive. “Now Mr. Brice, what shall be our next step? I don’t mind confessing I’m relieved that your errand of today is over with. Our doctor told me there was no chance of Mr. Manning having been killed or injured, without our receiving notification of the fact, somehow. But I’ve been nervously troubled about it, and nights I’ve dreamed of seeing him somewhere,—alone and helpless,—and unable to let me know——”
“Maybe he is,” said Mrs. Vail; “I knew a man once——”
But Olive cut short the tale of this acquaintance of her friend and kept to the business in hand.
“I can’t think of anything better to do,” I said, “than to advertise. But why are not other people doing this? Who are Mr. Manning’s friends? Who are his business people? Why are they silent?”
“I don’t know that they are,” Olive returned; “but to tell the truth, I don’t know much about Mr. Manning’s affairs, in a business way. I know he is a civil engineer, but that’s about all. A consulting engineer he is, too. As to his people, I know only his sister, and she doesn’t know what to do either. I’ve seen Mrs. Russell twice since, and we can only sympathize with each other.”
“Who is Mr. Russell?”
“Her husband? He’s in France, and she’s alone with her two little girls. She and Amory are devoted to each other, and he was of such help and comfort to her in her husband’s absence. Now, she doesn’t know which way to turn.”
“I must look these things up,” I said; “I must talk with Mr. Manning’s business associates,—doubtless Mrs. Russell can tell me of them.”
“Oh, yes, of course. You go to see her, and she’ll be only too glad to see you.”
“And as to a detective? Shall I get in touch with Wise?”