Page:The achievements of Luther Trant - Balmer and MacHarg - 1910.djvu/217

Rh form for recalling our wedding invitations, I will send it at once to Chicago. As to the gifts that have been already received—will you be good enough also to look up the convention under these circumstances?" He caught his breath. "I thought I heard the door bell a moment ago, Iris. Was there some one for me?"

"Yes, Anna went to the door." The girl motioned to a maid who for five minutes had been hovering about the hall, afraid to go to him with the card she held upon a silver tray.

"Ah! I was expecting him." He took the card. "Where is he? In the library?"

"Yes, Dr. Pierce."

He crushed the card in his hand, touched tenderly with his finger tips Iris's pale cheek, and with the same regular step crossed the hall to the library. A compact figure rose energetically at his coming.

"Mr. Trant?" asked Pierce, carefully closing the door behind him and measuring with forced collectedness his visitor, who seemed slightly surprised. "I need not apologize to you for my note asking you to come to me here in Lake Forest this morning. I understand that with you it is a matter of business. But I thank you for your promptness. I have heard of you from a number of sources as a psychologist who has applied laboratory methods to the solution of—of mysteries—of crimes; not as a police detective, Mr. Trant, but as a—a—"

"Consultant," the psychologist suggested.

"Yes; a consultant. And I badly need a consultant, Mr. Trant." Pierce dropped into the nearest