“Did you have a successful trip?”

“I accomplished my purpose.”

“You didn’t lose any time getting back.”

“I never do when I am coming to you.”

“Do you want to go to the cottage for anything?”

“No.”

“Then let us sit here and wait until the Petoskey steamer comes in.  I like to watch the boats.  Sometimes I study the faces, if I am not too tired.”

“Have you seen any new types to-day?”

She shook her head.  “This has not been an easy day, Hart.”

“And it’s going to be worse,” said Henderson bitterly.  “There’s no use putting it off.  Edith, I saw some one to-day.”

“You should have seen thousands,” she said lightly.

“I did.  But of them all, only one will be of interest to you.”

“Man or woman?”

“Man.”

“Where?”

“Lake Shore private hospital.”

“An accident?”

“No.  Nervous and physical breakdown.”

“Phil said he was going back to the Limberlost.”

“He went.  He was there three weeks, but the strain broke him.  He has an old letter in his hands that he has handled until it is ragged.  He held it up to me and said:  ’You can see for yourself that she says she will be well and happy, but we can’t know until we see her again, and that may never be.  She may have gone too near that place her father went down, some of that Limberlost gang may have found her in the forest, she may lie dead in some city morgue this instant, waiting for me to find her body.’”

“Hart!  For pity sake stop!”

“I can’t,” cried Henderson desperately.  “I am forced to tell you.  They are fighting brain fever.  He did go back to the swamp and he prowled it night and day.  The days down there are hot now, and the nights wet with dew and cold.  He paid no attention and forgot his food.  A fever started and his uncle brought him home.  They’ve never had a word from her, or found a trace of her.  Mrs. Comstock thought she had gone to O’Mores’ at Great Rapids, so when Phil broke down she telegraphed there.  They had been gone all summer, so her mother is as anxious as Phil.”

“The O’Mores are here,” said Edith.  “I haven’t seen any of them, because I haven’t gone out much in the few days since we came, but this is their summer home.”

“Edith, they say at the hospital that it will take careful nursing to save Phil.  He is surrounded by stacks of maps and railroad guides.  He is trying to frame up a plan to set the entire detective agency of the country to work.  He says he will stay there just two days longer.  The doctors say he will kill himself when he goes.  He is a sick man, Edith.  His hands are burning and shaky and his breath was hot against my face.”

“Why are you telling me?” It was a cry of acute anguish.

“He thinks you know where she is.”

“I do not!  I haven’t an idea!  I never dreamed she would go away when she had him in her hand!  I should not have done it!”