JOHN BELLINGHAM The next few days were a very nightmare of horror and gloom.

Of course, I repudiated my acceptance of the decree of banishment that Ruth had passed upon me.

I was her friend, at least, and in time of peril my place was at her side.

Tacitly--though thankfully enough, poor girl!--she had recognised the fact and made me once more free of the house.
For there was no disguising the situation.

Newspaper boys yelled the news up and down Fleet Street from morning to night; soul-shaking posters grinned on gaping crowds; and the newspapers fairly wallowed in the "Shocking details." It is true that no direct accusations were made; but the original reports of the disappearance were reprinted with such comments as made me gnash my teeth with fury.
The wretchedness of those days will live in my memory until my dying day.