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THE WRONG COAT

"Well, sir?"

"Are you the young lady of the house?" I finally summoned up the courage to ask.

"Yes." The door moved perceptibly toward me.

"I have, then, something of vital importance to tell you."

"Call to-morrow morning," she replied briefly. The door continued to move in my direction.

I saw that I must act quickly, or turn the matter over to the police, which I was exceedingly loath to do.

"It is a matter of life and death," I said determinedly.

"Life and death? Whose?" she asked, with discouraging brevity.

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