“May I come with you, grandfather?” inquired Cora.

“If you like,” was the short answer.

As they walked on he said: 

“I think it possible that Mrs. Stillwater, after missing our train, left for North End.”

“Yes, it is possible,” assented Cora.

No more was said.  They walked on for half an hour and then returned to the hotel and bade each other good night.

The next morning they met in the parlor.

Old Aaron Rockharrt was reading a New York morning paper.  Cora went up and bade him good morning.

He merely nodded and went on reading.  Presently he burst out with: 

“By ——!  This must be Mrs. Stillwater!”

“Who?  What?” eagerly inquired Cora, going to his side.

“Here!  Read!” exclaimed the Iron King, handing her the sheet and pointing out the paragraph.

Cora took the paper with trembling hands and read as follows: 

“A MYSTERY.—­Yesterday morning at six o’clock an unknown young woman of about twenty-five or thirty years of age, of medium height, plump form, fair complexion and yellow hair, clothed in a rich suit of widow’s mourning, was found in a state of coma in the ladies’ dressing room of the Hudson River Railway station.  She was taken to St. L——­’s Hospital.  There was nothing on her person to reveal her name or address.”

“That must have been Mrs. Stillwater,” said old Aaron Rockharrt.

“I think there is no question of it,” replied Cora.

“No doubt the poor child was suddenly seized with one of her terrible neuralgic headaches, caused by the pressure of that infernal crowd at the gate, and she stole away, as before, lest she should disturb us and prevent our journey; the most self-sacrificing creature I ever met.  No doubt she meant to telegraph to us, but was prevented by the sudden reaction from agony to stupor.  Ah!  I hope it is not a fatal stupor.”

“I hope not, sir.”

“Cora!”

“Yes, sir.”

“We must leave for New York by the next train.  If Sylvanus is not free to go with us, he can follow us.  Come, let us go down and get some breakfast.”

Cora arose and went with her grandfather down to the breakfast room.

When they had taken their places at one of the tables and given their orders to one of the waiters, old Aaron Rockharrt drew a time table from his pocket and consulted it.

“There is a down train stops at Garrison’s at 10:50.  We will take that.”

As soon as they had breakfasted, and as they were leaving the table, another telegram was handed to Mr. Rockharrt.  He opened it and read as follows: 

    BLANK HOUSE, New York, May ——­, 18—­

    The missing lady is in St. L——­’s Hospital.

    M. MARTIN.

“It is true, then! true as we surmised.  Mrs. Stillwater was the unknown lady found unconscious in the dressing room of the Hudson River Railroad and taken to St. L——­’s.  Cora!”