Very few human faces are plainer than the one I now searched for the encouragement of which I stood in such sore need, but also very few faces, handsome or otherwise, have the attraction of so pleasant a smile.

Its affable greeting was followed by the hasty pushing forward of a chair and a kind inquiry as to what he could do for me.
My answer woke an immediate interest.

"My name is Saunders," I said.

"I am at present an inmate of Mayor Packard's house--a house belonging to Mr.Searles, and one which has its drawbacks." The meaning look with which I uttered the last sentence called forth an answering one.

A flash of excitement broke over his features and he cast a quick glance at the door which fortunately had swung to at my entrance.
"Has--have they--has anything of a disagreeable nature happened to any one in this house ?" he asked with ill-concealed perturbation.