"Why," he said, "I have seen Miss Lise with a fellow named Duval—Howard
Duval—when he's been in town. He travels for a Boston shoe house,
Humphrey and Gillmount."
"I'm afraid Lise has gone away with him," said Janet. "I thought you might be able to find out something about him, and—whether any one had seen them. She left home yesterday morning."
For an instant Mr. Tiernan stood silent before her, his legs apart, his fingers running through his bristly hair.
"Well, ye did right to come straight to me, Miss Janet. It's me that can find out, if anybody can, and it's glad I am to help you. Just you stay here—make yourself at home while I run down and see some of the boys. I'll not be long—and don't be afraid I'll let on about it."
He seized his overcoat and departed. Presently the sun, glinting on the sheets of tin, started Janet's glance straying around the shop, noting its disorderly details, the heaped-up stovepipes, the littered work-bench with the shears lying across the vise. Once she thought of Ditmar arriving at the office and wondering what had happened to her…. The sound of a bell made her jump. Mr. Tiernan had returned.
"She's gone with him," said Janet, not as a question, but as one stating a fact.
Mr. Tiernan nodded.
"They took the nine-thirty-six for Boston yesterday morning. Eddy Colahan was at the depot."
Janet rose. "Thank you," she said simply.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.