thank you." Miss Ocky lighted a cigarette
with the air of one who has earned it, and dropped wearily into a
chair. "I was as much upset as you must have been when she turned up
there in the study. Hardly necessary to make excuses for her, is it?
She is not very strong, and she has been through enough in the last two
days to wreck an Amazon."

"Doctor worried about her?" asked Krech. "Is there anything Mrs. Bolt
or my wife can do? I know that's the first thing they'll ask."

"Not a thing. Please thank them both for me. I'm not a bit diffident
about asking favors of people and they can be sure I'll call for help
if I need it. No, the doctor isn't alarmed; he just wants her to sleep
as much as possible until the worst of the mental strain is over."

A faint clatter of silverware from the dining-room aroused Krech to the
passage of time. He looked at his watch and started as if he had been
stung.

"Nearly seven! I'm a ruined man! Where on earth is Jason Bolt? He
was to call for me long before this."

"That's true--you're stranded, aren't you? I'd forgotten you came with
him." Miss Ocky reflected briefly. "I simply can't leave here myself
just now, but I'll have Janet take the car and drive you home."

"Janet?" inquired Creighton. "Drives a car, does she? Quite an
accomplished lady's-maid!"

"She's a remarkable person," said Miss Ocky. "I'll tell you about her
some other time. Now--about yourself! Will you let me save you from
the horrors of the local hotel?"

"I was going to ask you if your invitation was still open," answered
the detective hesitantly. "But under the circumstances--with your
sister ill--haven't you enough trouble on your hands?"

"This house runs itself, thank to Bates," she replied quickly. She met
his eye frankly. "You won't inconvenience us in the least, and I'd
really be grateful if you would stay. So would my sister. With only
old Bates in the house she is inclined to be nervous while--while that
man is still at large."

"It is very gracious of you to put it that way," he murmured.

"That's settled," she said briskly, and stood up. "Now I'll go find
Janet."

"So Janet's a remarkable person, is she?" muttered Krech when Miss Ocky
had left the room. "Hers was the name I was about to mention when you
stopped me. Janet Mackay knows Charlie Maxon!"

"Easy! Don't let your imagination run away with you. What conceivable
motive could she have had to conspire agains