Chapter 24

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​⁠Strong in his conviction that the story of Hazel Rath was largely the product of an hysterical imagination, Merrington dismissed it from his mind and devoted all his energies to the search for Nepcote. The task looked a difficult one, but Merrington did not despair of accomplishing it before the day came round for the adjourned hearing of the charge against the girl. He knew that it was a difficul