“Who is her father?” Brent asked.
Miss Fields looked at him silently for a long moment. “Doctor Philip Elton,” she said finally.
“The famous surgeon?” Brent echoed in surprise.
Miss Fields nodded. “But no one knows where he is. When I learned Phyllis needed money for an operation I tried to get in touch with him. I was willing then to let him know about Phyllis because I couldn’t help her any more—but he could. It was impossible. He is somewhere in Europe.”
“We’ve got to find him,” Gale said excitedly. “Think what it means to Phyl——”
Brent rose. “We will start a search immediately. When he is found he can decide what is to be done,” he told Miss Fields.
Gale and Brent went out into the sunshine leaving the woman sitting alone in the cold forlorn house.
“To think of all that being hidden for years and years,” she murmured as they walked toward her home. “Because Miss Fields was so selfish. She didn’t think what it might mean to Phyllis——”
“I’ll start the search for Doctor Elton,” Brent planned. “I suppose David will want to help when he returns.”
“Do you think we should tell Phyllis now?” Gale asked. “Or do you think it would be better to wait until her father is found?”