The Green Jacket (Mystery Classics Series). Jennette Lee

You will call your husband's attention to it and say you will telephone me—I shall come out to-morrow. I shall, of course, sleep at the house. I may not be able to stay more than three or four days. If we have not found what we want by that time, I may have to send some one else to take my place for a while, . . . But I think we shall find it."

      The woman's face had grown subtly rested, and in it was something of the elusive beauty that had startled Milly a little before. She stood up and held out her hand.

      "I cannot tell you what it means to trust you—to trust any one!" she said slowly. "I shall sleep to-night!"

      "You are not to worry again, remember. I only wish you had come to me sooner."

      "Oh, I could not!" A little shudder ran through the words. "I could not have come now—I should not have known about you if it had not been for this—" She looked down at the letter in her hand. "The nurse told her you could be trusted, you see. That was why I came."

      "What was the nurse's name?" asked Milly. "Did you see her?"

      "Yes. She was Miss Stanton—Alice Stanton. She said she knew you?" She glanced at her inquiringly.

      Milly nodded. "She was concerned in a case I had last year. She is a fine woman."

      "Yes—and Marian trusted her." She held out the letter. "I am going to leave this with you." But her fingers seemed still to retain their hold on it.

      "Do you want to?" asked Milly.

      "I want to leave everything with you!" said the woman impulsively. Something that was like a smile touched the dark face. . . . "I did not think when I came, I should be saying that to you!" she added softly.

      "Go home and rest," said Milly. "And to-morrow I shall come to you. I shall help you in every way I can."

      When the woman was gone she unfolded the letter she had placed in her hands and read it slowly and thoughtfully, and carried it to the case across the room and locked it away.

      Then she went to the telephone and called the down-town office and gave directions for an appointment to be made for her with Daggett & Beals, the leading jewelry firm in the city, at eleven o'clock. She hesitated a moment. Then she called the Corbin Agency and asked for the manager.

      After a minute's delay a gruff, important voice came over the wire to her, and she smiled a little as the importance reached her.

      "It is Milly, Tom. . . . I am at my office, yes. I want to come in about twelve—to talk over the Mason case. Shall you be there? . . . Yes. All right. Thank you."

      She hung up, and took her hat and coat from the closet and left the office.