use comfortable, and as the salary was
excellent, Susan concluded that she had--as the saying is--fallen on
her feet.

The quartette had tea in the servants' hall, and there was plenty of
well-cooked if plain victuals. Miss Loach dined at half-past six and
Susan assumed her dress and cap. She laid the table in a handsome
dining-room, equally as garish in color as the apartment below. The
table appointments were elegant, and Mrs. Pill served a nice little
meal to which Miss Loach did full justice. She wore the same purple
dress, but with the addition of more jewellery. Her sharp eyes
followed Susan about the room as she waited, and at the end of the
dinner she made her first observation. "You know your work I see," she
said. "I hope you will be happy here!"

"I think I will, ma'am," said Susan, with a faint sigh.

"You have had trouble?" asked Miss Loach quickly.

"Yes, ma'am!"

"You must tell me about it to-morrow," said the old lady rising. "I
like to gain the confidence of my servants. Now bring my coffee to the
room below. At eight, three people will arrive--a lady and two
gentlemen. You will show them into the sitting-room and put out the
card-table. Then you can go to the kitchen and wait till I ring. Be
sure you don't come till I do ring," and Miss Loach emphasized this
last order with a flash of her brilliant eyes.

Susan took the coffee to the sitting-room in the basement and then
cleared the table. Shortly before eight o'clock there was a ring at
the front door. She opened it to a tall lady, with gray hair, who
leaned on an ebony cane. With her were two men, one a rather rough
foolish-looking fellow, and the other tall, dark, and well-dressed in
an evening suit. A carriage was just driving away from the gate. As
the tall lady entered, a breath of strong perfume saluted Susan's
nostrils. The girl started and peered into the visitor's face. When
she returned to the kitchen her own was as white as chalk.

CHAPTER II

THE CRIME

The kitchen was rather spacious, and as neat and clean as the busy
hands of Mrs. Pill could make it. An excellent range polished to
excess occupied one end of the room; a dresser with blue and white
china adorned the other. On the outside wall copper pots and pans,
glittering redly in the firelight, were ranged in a shining row.
Opposite this wall, a door led into the interior of the house, and in
it was the outer entrance. A large deal table stood