Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: We turned into a room which I saw to be the library, and a man sprang up as we entered. Royce he cried, and there was in his tone such an agony of entreaty that I knew instantly who he was. No; no news, Burr, said our junior; but here's Mr. Lester, and if any one can suggest a solution of this mystery, I'm sure he can. Lester, this is Burr Curtiss. As I shook hands with him, I told myself that Mr. Royce's description had been well within the truth. I could join with him in saying that I had never seen a handsomer man or a more attractive one, though in his eyes, as I met them, misery and anxiety were only too apparent. It was very kind of you to come, Mr. Lester, he said. Not at all, I protested. I only hope I can be of some service. Royce has told you Only the bare facts, I said. I'd like to have all the details of the story, if you'll be so kind as to give me them. Certainly, he assented instantly, as we sat down. That's what I wish to do?I know how important details are, He paused for a moment, to be sure of his self- control, and I had the chance to look at him more closely. His face was not only comely, it was strong, magnetic. The black hair and eyes bespoke a vigorous temperament; the full beard, closely cropped, served rather to accentuate the fine lines of mouth and chin. There was no superfluous flesh about the face?no puffiness; it was thin with the healthy thinness which tells of a busy life, and browned by exposure to wind and sun. It was, altogether, a manly face, not the merely handsome one which I had rather expected. My eyes were drawn especially to his hand as he passed it hastily across his forehead?a hand firm, white, with slightly tapering fingers?an artist's hand which one would scarcely connect with an ...