THE ASTONISHING MRS. WILMERDING.
Mrs. Wilmerding looked at him with an odd touch of wistfulness in her gaze. Then she sighed a little. "Youth is a very wonderful thing," she murmured. "I shouldn't make such a vow as that, though. You might have to break it. Have you thought of any plan?"
"Not yet. I only know I'll find her in some way. You must tell me everything you know quickly. We haven't any time to lose. When did she go out?"
"A little after three. She said she was going to call on a girl friend she met at the dance—a Miss Jennings."
"And did she?"
"Yes. When I reached home, about half past five, and did not find her here, my secretary called up the Jennings house on Fifty-seventh Street, and found that Shirley had left there an hour before. Even then there was nothing to worry about. She might easily have gone shopping. But when another hour had passed I began to be troubled. At twenty minutes to seven this letter was delivered at the door."
"Delivered!" Barry exclaimed. "Did the man notice by whom?"
"An ordinary messenger boy in uniform."
Barry's eyes sparkled. "By Jove!" he burst out. "You're sure there isn't any mistake about that?"
"Perfectly. Naturally, I asked Pagdon about it instantly. Unfortunately, he did not notice the boy's number; but there was no mistaking the uniform."