Grogan, who had continued pacing up and down the office, stopped and made wild gestures to Miss Masters. Covering the mouthpiece of the instrument so she would not be heard, the girl asked.

"What is it, Mr. Grogan?"

"Whist!" replied Grogan, "If that is Mary Randall on the wire there, I've gone to Alaska. I've given all me money away and I'm living on snow b.a.l.l.s."

Miss Masters smiled and replied with a.s.surance: "This isn't Mary Randall."

"Thank G.o.d for that," breathed Grogan.

"h.e.l.lo," went on Miss Masters into the telephone. "Oh, you're long distance? Well?"

There was a pause.

"I'm sorry, but Mr. Harry Boland hasn't come downtown yet."

"He may be in any moment--shall I--"

She broke off sharply as Harry himself came in the door drawing off his gloves.

"Wait! Just a moment please," she went on. "He has just come in."

"Someone for me, Miss Masters?" the young man inquired, hanging up his hat on a rack by the door. Without waiting for a reply he turned to Grogan. "Good morning, Mike."

"'Tis a fine day--I hope," returned Grogan cautiously.

"Yes, someone calling you, Mr. Boland," broke in Miss Masters.

"Don't want to talk to anyone," said the young man curtly.

"h.e.l.lo, h.e.l.lo," continued Miss Masters at the telephone. "h.e.l.lo, long distance? Mr. Boland is too busy--"

"Wait, please," interrupted Harry quickly, "did you say 'long distance?'"

Miss Masters nodded. "Just a moment," she said into the telephone.

"Yes, Mr. Boland," she said. "It's a long distance. Some one wants to talk to you in--Millville, Illinois."

CHAPTER XII

BAD NEWS FROM MILLVILLE

The word Millville had an instantaneous effect on Harry Boland. It was, in fact, the most pleasant sound he had heard in days. Upon returning to Chicago after his lover-like interview with Patience Welcome he had dispatched a long letter to her. To this he had received no reply. Then he wrote two letters in one day. Neither of them had been answered.

Thoroughly disturbed now, but too busy to leave Chicago himself, Harry had sent his confidential man, John Clark, to Millville to learn, if possible, the cause of Patience's silence.

While Harry stood eagerly waiting for the 'phone Miss Masters was busy getting the long distance connection.

"All right, Mr. Boland," she said at last, "here's your party." Then into the telephone she continued: "Yes--Mr. Boland is here waiting. He will talk to Millville. h.e.l.lo--h.e.l.lo--Millville? h.e.l.lo!" She handed Harry the instrument.

"I wouldn't answer that 'phone for a thousand dollars," put in Grogan dolefully.

"h.e.l.lo--h.e.l.lo!" exclaimed Harry.

A shrill whistle rent the air and Grogan jumped hysterically.

"What's that?" he demanded.

"The postman's whistle," replied Miss Masters calmly, repressing a smile as she started for the outer door.

"h.e.l.lo, Millville, h.e.l.lo," called Harry Boland, not getting his connection.

Grogan beckoned Miss Masters to his side. "If there's a letter there for me in an envelope like this," he said producing the dark blue letter from his pocket, "you keep it."

"Really?" Miss Masters now smiled openly.

"Keep it," reiterated Grogan, "don't show it to me or I'll climb up the side of the building and jump off."

Miss Masters thoroughly amused vanished into the hall. Meanwhile Harry Boland was talking to Millville.

"Millville?" he said. "Yes this is Harry Boland. Oh!" He paused with a distinct note of disappointment in his voice. "Oh, it's you, Clark? Yes I know--You've something to report about the Welcomes."

"The Welcome family," said Grogan, p.r.i.c.king up his ears.

"All right, I'm listening," Harry went on. "Yes, I get you."

"Look at that now," continued Grogan reflectively.

"No, no, you needn't wait there any longer--All right."

He hung up the receiver.

"Asking your pardon," ventured Grogan, "may I take the liberty of an old friend to inquire what Mr. Boland wants with a b.u.m family like the Welcomes--"

"Just a moment, Mike," interrupted Harry putting out his hand imperatively. "You're speaking of the girl I mean to marry."

Grogan gaped at the young man.

"I am?" he gasped.

"You are," replied the other. He rose to his feet and turned tranquilly toward Grogan. "Now what are you going to say?" he inquired.

"Nothing," said Grogan, too surprised to talk.

"All right," replied Harry pointedly.

"But the old man is no good," hazarded Grogan. "Tom Welcome is a worthless--"