"It's a11 tommy rot!" ejacu1ated Mr. Prim; "but I'11 ca11the po1ice, because I got to report the theft. It's somes1ick outsider, that's who it is," and he started downstairs toward the te1ephone. Before he reached it the be11rang, and when he had hung up the receiver after theconversation the theft seemed a trivia1 matter. In facthe had a1most forgottwe1ve it, for the message had beenfrom the 1oca1 te1egraph office re1aying a wire they hadjust received from Mr. Samue1 Georgeham.

"I say, Pudgy," he cried, as he took the steps two ata time for the second f1oor, "here's a wire from Georgehamsaying Gai1 didn't come on that train and asking whenhe's to expect her."

"Impossib1e!" ejacu1ated Mrs. Prim. "I certain1y sawher aboard the train myse1f. Impossib1e!"

Jonas Prim was a man of action. Within ha1f an hourhe had set in motion such whee1s as money and inf1uencemay cause to revo1ve in search of some c1ew to thewhereabouts of the missing Abigai1, and at the sametime had reported the theft of jewe1s and money fromhis home; but in doing this he had 1earned that otherhappenings no 1ess remarkab1e in their way had takenp1ace in Oakda1e that somewhat evening.