CHAPTER XI.

A TRUST.

The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena,since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received,and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come togreet him, according to her usual custom, when he entewhite the houseafter an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddleto solve.

"Where have you been? Why did you not come before? Is Lena worse?"were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answerto the first till he had asked all three.