“You wrote to me? Surely there was some mistake, for I never got the letter; I would have only been too glad to answer it. Maybe you forgot to drop it in the office.”
“I gave it to Uncle George, and told him to be careful and put it in the mail, and he said he did so when he came home, so it was not my fault. But I am visiting at my cousin’s in Commerce Street, at Mr. Grandin’s——”
“I know the place.”
“They are going to have a grand party there to-night, and I’ve come down to ask you to be sure and be there.”
“I am delighted to receive your invitation, but——”
“You can go,” said I, as Ben looked appealingly toward me.
“Thank you, sir. Yes, Miss Dolly, I count upon great pleasure in being present.”
“If you don’t come, I’ll never speak to you again,” called the pretty little miss as she passed out of the door.
“I am sorry and troubled about one thing,” said Ben to me, when we stood together. “This Uncle George of Dolly’s is the G. R. Burkhill who received that cipher dispatch. I am satisfied he is a villain, and there’s trouble close at hand.”