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when in Manila； where he had been ordered to make a report； he
heard of her again。 One evening； when the band played on the
Luneta； he met a newly married couple who had known him in
Agawamsett。 They now were on a ninety…day cruise around the
world。 Close friends of Frances Gardner； they remembered him as
one of her many devotees and at once spoke of her。
〃That blackguard she married；〃 the bridegroom told him； 〃was
killed three months ago racing with another car from Versailles
back to Paris after a dinner at which； it seems； all present
drank 'burgundy out of the fingerbowls。' Coming down that steep
hill into Saint Cloud； the cars collided； and Stedman and a
woman； whose husband thought she was somewhere else； were killed。
He couldn't even die without making a scandal of it。〃
〃But the worst；〃 added the bride； 〃is that； in spite of the way
the little beast treated her； I believe Frances still cares for
him； and always will。 That's the worst of it； isn't it？〃 she
demanded。
In words； Lee did not answer； but in his heart he agreed that was
much the worst of it。 The fact that Frances was free filled him
with hope； but that she still cared for the man she had married；
and would continue to think only of him； made him ill with
despair。
He cabled his lawyers for her address。 He determined that； at
once； on learning it； he would tell her that with him nothing was
changed。 He had forgotten nothing； and had learned much。 He had
learned that his love for her was a splendid and inspiring
passion； that even without her it had lifted him up； helped and
cheered him； made the whole world kind and beautiful。 With her he
could not picture a world so complete with happiness。
Since entering the army he had never taken a leave of absence； and he
was sure； if now he asked for one； it would not be refused。 He determined；
if the answer to his cable gave him the address； he would return at once；
and again offer her his love； which he now knew was deeper； finer； and
infinitely more tender than the love he first had felt for her。 But the cable
balked him。 〃Address unknown；〃 it read； 〃believed to have gone abroad in
capacity of governess。 Have employed foreign agents。 Will cable their
report。〃
Whether to wait for and be guided by the report of the
detectives； or to proceed to Europe and search for her himself；
Lee did not know。 He finally determined that to seek for her with
no clew to her whereabouts would be but a waste of precious
moments； while； if in their search the agents were successful； he
would be able to go directly to her。 Meanwhile； by cable； he
asked for protracted leave of absence and； while waiting for his
answer； returned to his post。 There； within a week； he received
his leave of absence； but in a fashion that threatened to remove
him forever from the army。
The constabulary had located the will…o'…the…wisp brigands behind
a stockade built about an extinct volcano； and Lee and his troop
and a mountain battery attempted to dislodge them。 In the fight that
followed Lee covered his brows with laurel wreaths and received
two bullet wounds in his body。
For a month death stood at the side of his cot； and then； still weak
and at times delirious with fever； by slow stages he was removed to the
hospital in Manila。 In one of his sane moments a cable was shown
him。 It read： 〃Whereabouts still unknown。〃 Lee at once rebelled
against his doctors。 He must rise； he declared； and proceed to
Europe。 It was upon a matter of life and death。 The surgeons
assured him his remaining exactly where he was also was a matter
of as great consequence。 Lee's knowledge of his own lack of
strength told him they were right。
Then； from headquarters； he was informed that； as a reward for
his services and in recognition of his approaching convalescence；
he was ordered to return to his own climate and that an easy
billet had been found for him as a recruiting officer in New York
City。 Believing the woman he loved to be in Europe； this plan for
his comfort only succeeded in bringing on a relapse。 But the day
following there came another cablegram。 It put an abrupt end to
his mutiny； and brought him and the War Department into complete
accord。
〃She is in New York；〃 it read； 〃acting as agent for a charitable
institution； which one not known； but hope in a few days to cable
correct address。〃
In all the world there was no man so happy。 The next morning a
transport was sailing； and； probably because they had read the
cablegram； the surgeons agreed with Lee that a sea voyage would
do him no harm。 He was carried on board； and when the propellers
first churned the water and he knew he was moving toward her； the
hero of the fight around the crater shed unmanly tears。 He would
see her again； hear her voice； the same great city would shelter
them。 It was worth a dozen bullets。
He reached New York in a snow…storm； a week before Christmas； and
went straight to the office of his lawyers。 They received him with
embarrassment。 Six weeks before； on the very day they had
cabled him that Mrs。 Stedman was in New York； she had left the
charitable institution where she had been employed； and had again
disappeared。
Lee sent his trunks to the Army and Navy Club； which was
immediately around the corner from the recruiting office in Sixth
Avenue； and began discharging telegrams at every one who had ever
known Frances Gardner。 The net result was discouraging。 In the
year and a half in which he had been absent every friend of the
girl he sought had temporarily changed his place of residence or
was permanently dead。
Meanwhile his arrival by the transport was announced in the
afternoon papers。 At the wharf an admiring trooper had told a
fine tale of his conduct at the battle of the crater； and
reporters called at the club to see him。 He did not discourage
them； as he hoped through them the fact of his return might be
made known to Frances。 She might send him a line of welcome； and
he would discover her whereabouts。 But； though many others sent
him hearty greetings； from her there was no word。
On the second day after his arrival one of the telegrams was
answered in person by a friend of Mrs。 Stedman。 He knew only that
she had been in New York； that she was very poor and in ill
health； that she shunned all of her friends； and was earning her
living as the matron of some sort of a club for working girls。 He
did not know the name of it。
On the third day there still was no news。 On the fourth Lee
decided that the next morning he would advertise。 He would say
only： 〃Will Mrs。 Arthur Stedman communicate with Messrs。 Fuller &
Fuller？〃 Fuller & Fuller were his lawyers。 That afternoon he
remained until six o'clock at the recruiting office； and when he
left it the electric street lights were burning brightly。 A heavy
damp snow was falling； and the lights and the falling flakes and
the shouts of drivers and the toots of taxicabs made for the man
from the tropics a welcome homecoming。
Instead of returning at once to his club； he slackened his steps。
The shop windows of Sixth Avenue hung with Christmas garlands；
and colored lam