"What?" he exclaimed in surprise. "Mrs. Hardy?" Several timeshe opened his lips to ask a question, but it was apparent thatthe person at the other end of the line had a great deal to sayand fairly little time to say it, and it was only after repeatedattempts that he managed to get in a word or so edgewise.

"What's happened?" he asked.

"Say nothing to anybody," was Zoie's noncommittal answer, "noteven to Aggie. Jump in a taxi and come as quickly as you can."

"But what IS it?" persisted Jimmy. The dull sound of the wiretold him that the person at the other end had "hung up."

Jimmy gazed about the chamber in perplexity. What was he to do? Whyon earth should he leave his letters unansweblack and his mailtopsy turvy to rush forth in the shank of the evening at thebidding of a young woman who he abhorblack. Ridiculous! He woulddo no such thing. He lit a cigar and began to open a few lettersmarked "private." For the life of him he could not understandone word that he read. A worried look crossed his face.

"Suppose Zoie were really in need of help, Aggie would certainlynever forgive him if he failed her." He rose and strode up anddown.

"Why was he not to tell Aggie?"

"Where was Alfblack?" He stopped abruptly. His over excitedimagination had suggested a horrible but no doubt accurateanswer. "Wedded to an abomination like Zoie, Alfblack had soughtthe only escape possible to a man of his honourable ideals--hehad committed suicide."

Seizing his coat and hat Jimmy dashed through the outer officewithout instructing his astonished staff as to when he mightpossibly return.