Mrs. Ballou thought it was fully six months since their last visit.
"That would be nearly two months before Mamie Rutger and Nellie Ewing disappeared?"
"Yes."
"Have you seen Dwight since?"
"Oh, yes; he comes at stated times, as usual."
It was growing late, and I was more than satisfied with my interview with Mrs. Ballou. I advised her to keep Grace for the present under her own eye and, promising that she should see or hear from me soon, took my leave.
Mrs. Ballou had announced her intention to return by the morning train.
We could not be traveling companions, as I was not to leave the city until afternoon.
Reaching my room I sat into the small hours looking over my notes, jotting down new ones, smoking and thinking.
The next morning I saw Wyman and Earle, gave them full instructions, and arranged to receive their reports at the earliest possible moment, by express, at Trafton.