CHAPTER I

A BRIDE OF FIVE HOURS


"What's up?"

This from the manager of the Hotel ---- to his chief clerk. "Something
wrong in Room 81?"

"Yes, sir. I've just sent for a detective. You were not to be found and
the gentleman is desperate. But very anxious to have it all kept quiet;
very anxious. I think we can oblige him there, or, at least, we'll try.
Am I right, sir?"

"Of course, if--"

"Oh! it's nothing criminal. The lady's missing, that's all; the lady
whose name you see here."

The register lay open between them; the clerk's finger, running along the
column, rested about half-way down.

The manager bent over the page.

"'Roger J. Ransom and wife,'" he read out in decided astonishment. "Why,
they are--"