"Either Clayton has been frightened off, and is waiting for me near Detroit, or they have trapped him in some way.

Something has brought things to a crisis.
And yet, I must handle Mr.Arthur Ferris with velvet gloves!" He reflected now upon the imprudence of his registration at the Hoffman.

The railroad attorneyship had brought him in close contact with Ferris.

"I must go around there and show up at once! They would surely see my arrival in the papers!" He had just finished his professional toilet when a telegram was brought to his door.

He tore it open with a wild anxiety.
"No news of friend here.