Ida was about to return the paper with the word that a personal interview alone would do, when a thought struck her.
She took the paper and pencil and hastily wrote on it:
“Ellison. Mysterious disappearance. Elsie Sanborn. Mrs. Ladew.”
As she wrote this last name, some one passed through the hall of whom Ida caught but a glimpse through the openings of the portières.
Yet that glimpse suggested to her the man who came to see Ellison on the day of his wedding, as described by Patsy.
Not that she believed that it was the man, but the fancied resemblance suggested an idea.
She added hastily to what she had already written on the paper the following:
“The mysterious stranger who called on Ellison on the day of his wedding.”
She folded the paper, inclosing it in the envelope, sealed it, and gave it to the servant.
In a very short time the servant was back again to say that Miss Rainforth would see the caller in her own apartment.