Somewhere about the house an unfastened shutter slammed in the gusts.

Mr.Atkins should have been extremely comfortable as he sat there by the fire.

He had spent many comfortable winters in that room.

But now there was a frown on his face as he read the letter in his hand.

It was from Simpson, and stated, among other things, that Cyrus Whittaker had been absent from Bayport for over two weeks, and that no one seemed to know where he had gone.