"But alone! And at this hour! Miss Hermione, that was surely very—er—unwise of you."
"Yes, you see I didn't know where to look," she sighed. "I've been to the saloon but he wasn't there—"
"The saloon? Good Lord!" exclaimed Ravenslee, his placidity quite forgotten, his face set and stern. "That is no place for you—or any girl—"
"I must go to find Arthur," she said softly.
"No, not there—even for that."
"Why not?"
"Think of the—the risks you run! No girl should take such chances."
"Oh, you mean—that!" said Hermione, meeting his eyes with her frank glance. "But no one would try to insult me hereabouts; this isn't Broadway or Fifth Avenue, Mr. Geoffrey!" and she smiled a very sad, weary little smile. "But I came to ask if you happened to know where Arthur is or—whom he was with?"
"Wasn't wid that Bud M'Ginnis, was he?" questioned Mrs. Trapes sharply.
"No, he wasn't with M'Ginnis," answered Mr. Ravenslee, in frowning perplexity, "but that's about all I can tell you."