On the Sabbath he walked the streets, peering into every young face that he met, but those clear, brown eyes never greeted his weary search, and that lovely face was but a vision in his memory.
Monday he went to Wilbur and told him of Miss Douglas’ strange disappearance, and his fruitless search for her; and the young man was nearly distracted himself.
“They have driven her to death, curse them!” he muttered, fiercely, and he told Adrian the story of the jewels.
His father had returned unexpectedly, and he acquainted him also with the facts of the case.
A scene ensued which was long remembered by both Isabel and her mother, while Mr. Coolidge spared no trouble or expense to find the unfortunate girl.
Wilbur had been so bound up in his own sorrow that he had paid no attention to the number of the cab in which Brownie had gone away, neither had he noticed the driver; so that although he sought out and questioned every cabby that he could find, he could gain no clew to the missing girl.
Mr. Coolidge advertised and engaged a detective to look her up, while Adrian Dredmond and Wilbur haunted the streets day and night, but all to no purpose.
Beautiful Brownie Douglas—abused, insulted, friendless—seemed to have dropped out of existence as completely as a star when it falls from its place in the heavens!
CHAPTER XIX
A STARTLING RECOGNITION
Meanwhile the day for Lady Peasewell’s drawing-room dawned.