There was nothing to do but to hasten to the house near Washington
Square. Garrison lost no time in speeding down Fifth Avenue.
He came to the door just in time to meet Miss Ellis, dressed to go out.
"Why, how do you do, Mr. Fairfax?" she said. "Mrs. Fairfax asked me to tell you, if you came before I went, that she'd meet you at your office. I felt so sorry when she was ill."
"I didn't know she'd been ill," said Garrison. "I was afraid of something like that when she failed to write."
"Oh, yes, she was ill in the morning, the very day after you left," imparted Miss Ellis.
"I know you'll excuse me," interrupted Garrison. "I'll hurry along, and hope to see you again."
He was off so abruptly that Miss Ellis was left there gasping on the steps.
Ten minutes later he was stepping from the elevator and striding down the office-building hall.
Dorothy was not yet in the corridor. He opened the office, beheld a number of notes and letters on the floor, and was taking them up when Dorothy came in, breathless, her eyes ablaze with excitement.
"Jerold!" she started. "Please lock the door and——" when she was interrupted by the entrance of a man.