"Miss Diurno did not stay. She left at once."

"Gone!" Lucile murmured. "And my opportunity gone with it." Sinking weakly into a chair, she buried her face in her hands.

This lasted but a moment; then she was up and away like the wind. Miss Diurno, the Mystery Woman, Spirit of Christmas, had gone out on the Boulevard. She had promised, through the news columns, to be about the Boulevard until midnight. There was still a chance.

Hurrying back to the now almost deserted hall, she found Laurie and Cordie waiting for her.

"Well now, what does this mean?" Laurie laughingly demanded. "Did you recognize in the hands of some violinist the Stradivarius that was stolen from your grandfather fifty years ago?"

"Not quite that," Lucile smiled back. "I did discover that someone has vanished, someone I must find. Yes, yes, I surely must!" She clenched her hands tight in her tense excitement. "I want you two to promise to walk the Boulevard with me until midnight, that is, if I don't find her sooner. Will you? Promise me!"

"'Oh promise me,'" Laurie hummed. "Some contract! What say, Cordie? Are you in on it?"

"It sounds awfully interesting and mysterious. Let's do."

"All right, we're with you till the clock strikes for Christmas morning."

Lucile led the way out of the hall. They were soon out in the cool, crisp air of night. There had been a storm but now the storm had pa.s.sed. The night was bright with stars.

To promenade the Boulevard at this hour on such a night was not an unpleasant task. Out from a midnight blue sky the golden moon shone across a broad expanse of snow which covered the park, while to the left of them, as if extending their arms to welcome jolly old St. Nicholas, the great buildings loomed toward the starry heavens.

The street was gay with light and laughter, for was not this the night of all nights, the night before Christmas?

CHAPTER XXI THE MAN IN GRAY

"I know of an odd old custom which might prove interesting," said Laurie as the three of them walked arm in arm along the boulevard. "I've forgotten to what little out of the way corner of the world it belongs, but anyway, in the villages of that land, sometime near to midnight, on Christmas Eve, friends gather about small tables in their taverns and over the festive board talk of the year that is gone. The strange part is this: Just to make it a clearing up time of unsolved problems, each member of the group may select one other member of that group and may ask him three questions. Each member is pledged to answer all three questions frankly and truthfully."

"Oh!" exclaimed Cordie. "I'd not like to get caught in a crowd like that."

"Too bad," sighed Laurie. "I was about to propose that a half hour before midnight we get together to celebrate in just that way. I think I can pick up a person or two whose secrets would be of interest to some people I know."

"That would be wonderful," exclaimed Lucile. "But must we select one person, only one?"

"One, that's all."

"And ask him just three questions; no more?"

"Not another one."

"Eenie-meenie-minie-mo," exclaimed Lucile, pointing her finger first at Cordie, then at Laurie,

"Catch a monkey by the toe, If he hollers, let him go, Eenie-meenie-minie-mo.

"Laurie, you're my choice," she laughed. "I'll ask three questions of you, though goodness knows I'd like to ask them of Cordie."

"Wait," said Laurie holding up a warning finger. "There may be someone there who is more interesting to you than we are."

"There's only one such person in the world," exclaimed Lucile, "and--and I hope I may meet her before that hour comes."

She was a little surprised at the glances Laurie and Cordie exchanged and greatly puzzled by the fact that they did not ask her who that person was.

Laurie and Cordie gave themselves over to the gaiety of the night. The blazing light, the splendid cars that went gliding down the Boulevard, the magnificent furs worn by those who chose to promenade the broad sidewalk, were sights to catch any eye.

They did not hold Lucile's attention. She had eyes for but one sight, the glimpse of a single face. What that glimpse would mean to her! Room rent paid, term bills paid, a warm coat, other needed clothing, a last minute present which she had been too poor to purchase, and a snug little sum in the bank. All these it would mean, and more; two hundred in gold.

But the face did not appear. For an hour they walked the Boulevard, yet no sight of the Mystery Lady, she of the Christmas Spirit, came to them.

One matter troubled Lucile more and more. Often in her search she looked behind her. More than once, four times in fact, she had caught sight of a man who walked always at exactly the same distance behind them. A tall man, it was, with a long gray coat, a high collar turned up and cap pulled low.

"It isn't just because he happens to be walking in our direction," she told herself with a little shiver. "Twice we have turned and walked back and once we crossed the street. But all the time he has been directly behind us. I wonder what it could mean?"

At that moment there came the clatter of hoofs and four mounted policemen, clad in bright uniform, came riding down the Boulevard.

"It's a big night," exclaimed Laurie. "There's a special squad of them out."

"Oh there--there he is!" exclaimed Cordie. "There's d.i.c.k! That's Patrick O'Hara riding him! Aren't they splendid? And right beside him is Tim, good old Tim. See! They recognized me. They touched their hats!"

"Who's Tim?" asked Lucile.

"Don't you wish you knew?" taunted Cordie. "If only you were going to ask your questions of me you'd be sure to find out."

"Don't worry," smiled Laurie. "I've just decided that you shall be the person to answer my three questions."

"You horrid thing! I shan't go! I'm off your old party!" In mock anger, she sprang away from her companions and went racing on ahead of them.

Then strange and startling things began to happen. A long, low-built blue roadster, which had been creeping along the curb as if looking for someone, came to a grinding stop. A man leaped out. A second later a piercing scream reached the ears of Laurie and Lucile.

"It's Cordie!" exclaimed Lucile. "Some--something terrible! C'mon!"

As she said this a gray streak shot past her. Even in this wild moment of excitement, she recognized the man who had been d.o.g.g.i.ng their footsteps and she wondered why she had not recognized him sooner.

The next second they were in the midst of things. With wildly beating heart Lucile stared at the panorama that was enacted before her.

Powerless to aid, she saw Cordie, the innocent country girl, the center of a battle, s.n.a.t.c.hed from hand to hand until it seemed the very life must be torn from her.

First she caught a glimpse of her fighting frantically but vainly in the grasp of a man. Lucile recognized him instantly.

"The hawk-eyed man!" she whispered. "The one who claimed to be her brother! Quick!" she exclaimed, gripping Laurie's arm until her fingers cut into the very flesh. "Quick! They're taking her to the auto. They'll carry her away!"

Active as he was, Laurie was not the first to leap at the hawk-eyed one.

A man in gray, the man who had been following them, sprang squarely at the captor's throat.

With a howl of rage and fear the villain loosed one hand to strike out at his mysterious a.s.sailant. All in vain; the rescuer came straight on.

Striking the captor squarely in the middle, he bowled him over like a ten-pin. So sudden was this attack that Cordie was also thrown to the pavement.

Finding herself free and unharmed, she sprang to her feet. She felt a hand at her elbow and turned to look into the face of Laurie Seymour.