"
Helen darted from the room, only to return after a moment, laughing.
"You are a true wizard," she said. "Tell me, how did you know? What has
happened?"
"A city," stated Percy didactically, "is like a mollusk; it depends
largely for its life and health on the artificial shell it has
constructed. Unless I am very much mistaken, this particular mollusk
is going to get a chance to try life without its shell."
"I don't understand you," said Helen.
"You will," said Percy Darrow.
Mr. and Mrs. Warford descended soon after. They sat down to dinner by
the light of the table candles only. Darrow hardly joined at all in
the talk, but sat lost in a brown study, from which he only roused
sufficiently to accept or refuse the dishes offered him. At about
eight o'clock the telephone bell clicked a single stroke, as though
the circuit had been closed. At the sound Darrow started, then reached
swiftly into his pocket for his little flash-light. He gravely pressed
the button of this; then abruptly rose.
"I must use your telephone," said he, without apology.
He was gone barely a minute; then returned to the table with a clouded
brow. Almost immediately after the company had arisen from the board, he
excused himself and left.
After he had assumed his coat, however, he returned for a final word with
Helen.
"Where is Jack this evening?" he asked.
"Dining out with friends. Why?"
"Will you see him to-night?"
"I can if necessary.
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