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 ton strode towards the door with a triumphant smile, opened it, and called loudly, “Irene!”

In answer to his call Mrs. Selton came clattering from the kitchen, her manner greatly agitated.

“Where is your mistress?” asked Brenton sharply, suspiciously. She turned an appealing glance to Vermont. He nodded.

“Gone, sir,” she gasped.

“Gone!” Brenton almost screamed the . word.

“Yes, sir.”

“Where—when—which way?”

She pointed through the back door over against the woods. Brenton uttered a furious exclamation and dashed out. Vermont followed him to the door and watched him as he flew along the little path.

“How long has she been gone?” he asked of the trembling woman by his side.

“Quite a little time, sir. She seemed like ~ one gone suddenly mad as she came from the room. But she stopped at the doorway and ~ looked at me with wild eyes. ‘Something has — happened,’ she said, ‘and I am going away. — But tell him I will come back again.’ That —