But Carey Doyle, watching proceedings with a hawk eye, chanced upon the personals and ejaculated:
“Come, now, this is very strange. The old lady said she had gone to see Mrs. Dalrymple, yet apparently she never got there. Is there foul play anywhere? Maybe I have stumbled on a private Klondyke of my own! I’ll claim that reward for news [of] her anyway, but I won’t face Laurier, I’ll go to Mrs. Dalrymple herself.”
And so eager was the lady for news that he gained admittance to her boudoir, where she sat in an easy-chair getting stronger every day, and claiming the reward, obtained it, and blurted out his news.
Mrs. Dalrymple was terribly startled. She called out in wild excitement:
“Send Miss Ellyson to me instantly!”
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
LOVE REKINDLED.
Cora had been listening outside the door, and she darted in now, exclaiming:
“I was just coming in when I heard you call for me, dear aunt.”
She gazed at Carey Doyle as if he had been a perfect stranger, but her face was ghastly with fear lest he meant also to betray her secret.
But he flashed her a swift, reassuring look while Mrs. Dalrymple exclaimed: