"In pursuance of a the task set me，"began Mr.Burke，"Ihad met with such absolute failure to trace the missing girl that I began to suspect no ordinary conditions were attached to this case.In my experience，which covers many years，I have hadoccasion to study sudden dementia，caused by shocks of griefor horror，and I have come to comprehend the fact that the human mind，once unbalanced，is liable to accomplish many surprising feats.Usually the victim is absolutely transformed，and becomes the very opposite，in many ways，of the normal personality.I imagine this is what happened to Lucy Rogers.""Do you imagine that Lucy would try to deceive me，sir？"asked Tom，reproachfully.
"I am sure she doesn't know who you are，"answered the detective，positively."She doesn't even know herself.I have known instances where every recollection of the past was wiped out of the patient's mind."There was another thoughtful pause，for the detective'sassertions were so astonishing that they fairly overwhelmed his hearers.
Then Louise asked：
"Is such a case of dementia hopeless，Mr.Burke？""Not at all hopeless.Often，I admit，it develops into permanent insanity，but there are many examples of complete recovery.Our ？rst business must be to assure ourselves that we are right in this conjecture.I may be entirely wrong，for the unexpected is what I have been taught to look for in every case of mystery that has come under my observation.But I believe Ihave the material at hand to prove the personality of this Eliza Parsons，and after that I shall know what to do.Who employs your servants，Mr.Forbes？""Martha，my housekeeper，usually employs the maids.""Will you send for her，please？"Kenneth at once obeyed the request，and presently Martha entered the library.
She was a little，withered old woman，but with a pleasantface and shrewd but kindly eyes.
"Martha，"said Kenneth，"did you employ the new linen maid，Eliza Parsons？""Yes，sir，"she replied，apparently surprised at the question.
"This is Mr.Burke，Martha.Please answer any questionshe may ask you.""Yes，Master Kenneth.""Did the girl bring any recommendations？"asked the detective.
Martha re？ected.
"I do not think she did，sir."
"Are you accustomed to hiring maids without recommen—dations？"asked Mr.Burke.
"Oh，Eliza had a letter from my cousin，Mrs.Hopkins，who lives in Elmwood.""Is Mrs.Hopkins your cousin？"asked Kenneth.
"Yes，sir.She were a Phibbs before she married Erastus，and my name is Phibbs.""What did the letter from Mrs.Hopkins say？""It said she knew Eliza to be a clever and worthy girl，and if I had a place for her I couldn't do better than take her on.So I needed a linen maid and Eliza went right to work.Isn't she satisfactory，sir？Has she been doing anything wrong？""No.Please do not mention this interview to her at present，Miss Phibbs，"said the detective."That is all，I believe.""Would you like to see Eliza？"asked Kenneth，when thehousekeeper had retired.
"Not at present.I want to interview Mrs.Hopkins ？rst.""Tonight？"asked Tom，eagerly.
"I will go at once，with Mr.Forbes's permission.""Certainly，sir，"said Kenneth."Shall we see youtomorrow？""Just as soon as I have accomplished anything.""Would you like a horse or an automobile？""Your man may drive me to the town，sir，if it is con—venient."Kenneth gave the required order，and then Mr.Burkeasked：
"How far are you prepared to go in this matter，sir？""In what way？""In expending money.""Will any large expenditure be required？""I cannot say.But we may require the services and advice of an expert physician—a specialist in brain diseases.""Do you know of one？"asked Kenneth.
"Yes；but he must be brought from Buffalo.It will be expensive，sir.That is why I ask if your interest in the girl warrants our going to the limit to save her."Kenneth was thoughtful，while the girls looked at himexpectantly and Tom Gates with visible anxiety.
"My original idea was merely to find the missing girl in order to relieve the anxiety of her blind mother，"said young Forbes."To accomplish that I was willing to employ your services.But，as a matter of fact，I have never seen the girl Lucy Rogers，nor am I particularly interested in her.""I am，"declared Beth.
"And I！"
"And I！"repeated Patsy and Louise.
"I think，"said Uncle John，who had been a quiet listener until now，"that Kenneth has assumed enough expense in this matter.""Oh，Uncle！"The remonstrancea was from all three ofthe girls.
"Therefore，"continued Mr.Merrick，"I propose that I undertake any further expense that may be incurred，so as to divide the burden.""That's better！"declared Patsy."But I might have knownUncle John would do that.""You have my authority to wire the physician，if nece—ssary，or to go to any expense you deem advisable，"continued Mr.Merrick，turning to the detective."We seem to have undertaken to unravel an interesting mystery，and we'll see it through to the end.""Very good，sir，"said Mr.Burke，and left them with a brief nod of farewell.
"Somehow，"said Beth，"I've a lot of confidence in thatlittle man.""Why，he's a detective，"replied Uncle John，with a smile，"and the chief business of detectives is to make mistakes."
