Page:Barbour--cupid en route.djvu/80

 "Not at home?" Wade's face expressed great surprise. "But I understood—"

"The family left a half-hour ago, sir. They'll be out of town until New Year's."

"That's very disappointing," mused Wade with a frown. "I had fully expected to find Miss Pearse at home today. They left earlier than they intended?"

"I can't say, sir."

"Then I must reach her by telephone. You have her address?"

The butler hesitated. The caller spoke like an old friend of the family, but the name on the card was strange to him and he couldn't recall the face. And he was a discreet butler.

"No, sir. But if you write here, a letter will be forwarded."

"That will take too long," was the decisive reply. "Surely you know whether Miss Pearse has gone North or South or West!"

The butler hesitated, glancing at the card. "I think, sir," he finally replied cautiously, "that they left for Boston."