“I hardly know what to think.  I never was on a case like this before.  When I first heard about his taking the picture away I thought maybe he had gone off somewhere to commit suicide, and wanted it with him.”

“No suicide for Hamden Potter,” put in Harvey Newton, with a laugh, as he stood listening to Larry and Mr. Emberg talking.  “He has too much to live for.”

“Well, I didn’t want to think that,” Larry went on.  “He has a very fine wife and——­”

“And a beautiful daughter,” broke in Harvey.  “Look out, Larry, this is not a love story you’re working on.”

Larry blushed like a girl, for several times that day he had caught himself thinking of Grace and how pretty she was.

“Let Larry alone for getting all the facts in the case,” said Mr. Emberg.  “I suppose Miss Grace gave you some information?”

“She talked to all the reporters,” Larry said.  “Mrs. Potter is a nervous wreck.”

“Well, run up any time this evening,” went on the city editor.  “You might stumble on some news.  You wrote a very good story to-day.  Try again to-morrow.  We’ve beat the other papers on it as it is.”

Larry got Mr. Potter’s picture back from the art department, where a cut for use in the paper had been made, and decided that he would have a good excuse for calling at the Potter residence in going back to return it as he had promised.

“I wish I had some news to tell her,” the young reporter thought as he went home to supper, “but it’s too soon yet.  I’d like to be a detective and see if I couldn’t find her father for her.  I wonder where he can be, or why he disappeared?  Of course, if he’s out of his mind, as Mr. Emberg believes, that would account for it, but I don’t think he is.”

Telling his mother he did not expect to be out long, Larry left the house early that evening.  He intended to go to Mr. Potter’s residence, leave the picture, have a few minutes’ talk with Grace, and then go home by way of the street on which the tenement was located, where he had undergone the queer experience with the crazy inventor.

“Maybe the policeman has discovered something new about that strange man from the wreck,” thought Larry.

He found Grace more composed than when he had seen her in the afternoon.

“Did you bring me any news?” she asked, as she took the picture.

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t.  I will, though, if there is any to bring.  I’m sure your father will be found.”

“So am I!” exclaimed the girl.  “Poor mother is in despair, but I am not going to give up.  If the police can’t find him I’m going to make a search myself.  I know a great deal about his business.  Father always said I ought to have been a boy.”

Larry thought it would have been a pity, but he did not say so.

“I’ll search all over until I find him,” Grace went on.

“And I’ll help you!” cried Larry, fired to sudden enthusiasm.