which she had been lead. When she appeared
in the hallway at the time of the murder she wore a long embroidered
Chinese dressing gown. Yet she had just stated that she had not
undressed. McQuade, who seemed to have the mind of a hawk, seized upon
it at once.

"Until what?" he asked bluntly.

"Until--this morning," she concluded, and I instinctively felt that she
was not telling the truth.

"Until you heard the commotion in the hall?" inquired McQuade,
insinuatingly. I felt that I could have strangled him where he stood,
but I knew in my heart that he was only doing his duty.

"Yes," she answered.

"Then, Miss Temple, how do you explain the fact that you appeared
immediately in the hall--as soon as the house was aroused--in your
slippers and a dressing gown?"

She saw that she had been trapped, and still her presence of mind did
not entirely desert her. "I had begun to change," she cried, nervously.

"Were you out of the house this morning, Miss Temple, at or about the
time of the murder? Were you at the corner of the porch under Mr.
Ashton's room?" The detective's manner was brutal in its cruel
insistence.

Miss Temple gasped faintly, then looked at her father. Her eyes were
filled with tears. "I--I refuse to answer any more questions," she
cried, and, sobbing violently, turned and left the room.

McQuade strode quickly toward Major Temple, who had observed the scene
in amazed and horrified silence. "Major Temple," he said, sternly, "much
as I regret it, I am obliged to ask you to allow me to go at once to
Miss Temple's room."

"To her room," gasped the Major.

"Yes. I will be but a moment. It is imperative that I make some
investigations there immediately."

"Sir," thundered the Major, "do you mean for a moment to imply that my
daughter had any hand in this business? By God, Sir--I warn you--" he
towered over the detective, his face flushed, his clenched fist raised
in anger.

McQuade held up his hand. "Major Temple, the truth can harm no one who
is innocent. Miss Temple has, I fear, not been entirely frank with me.
It is my duty to search her room at once--and I trust that you will not
attempt to interpose any obstacles to my doing so." He started toward
the door, and Major Temple and I followed reluctantly enough. With a
growl of suppressed rage the girl's father lead the way to her room to
which she had not herself returned. As though by instinct, the detective
went to a large closet between the dr