THE MISSING HEART There came a sudden blare of music from the great ballroom below, and the woman who stood alone at an open window on the first floor shrugged her shoulders and shivered a little.

The night air blew in brisk and cold upon her uncovered neck, but except for that slight, involuntary shiver she scarcely seemed aware of it.

The room behind her was brilliantly lighted but empty.

Some tables had been set for cards, but the cards were untouched.

Either the attractions of the ballroom had remained omnipotent, or no one had penetrated to this refuge of the bored--no one save this tall and stately woman robed in shimmering, iridescent green, who stood with her face to the night, breathing the chill air as one who had been on the verge of suffocation.