The sailor grinned. So cheerful and white-toothed was that grin, that Tom Dennis felt impelled to laugh, but the arrogant, light-blue eyes steadied him.
"You want Miss Hathaway's address—is that it?"
"Part of it, matey," responded Ericksen. "Only part of it!"
CHAPTER II
NEWS FROM NOWHERE
Florence Hathaway was extremely astonished when, upon Sunday morning, she heard the voice of Tom Dennis on the telephone, and received a request to join him down-town for noon dinner.
"Come up to the school, Tom!" she returned. "You can dine in hall as my guest. And what brought you to town?"
"Can't talk now, Florence. And I'll have to refuse your invitation—because we'll all three have to dine down-town. Better make it the 'Royton'; then we can have comparative privacy."
"All three?" she echoed. "Who's with you?"
"A man who has news of your father, dear. He's to join us at the 'Royton' at one sharp, but I want to see you for a few moments first. Why not meet me at the Art Institute about twelve-thirty? I'll be in the Japanese Room. Believe me, it's important!"