excepting Saturday afternoons. If possible, I
take a long walk before going to work."

"Do you go straight home?"

Winifred remembered Mr. Fowle's query, and smiled again.

"Yes," she said.

"Now last night, for instance, was your aunt at home when you reached
the house?"

"No; she was out. She did not come in until half past nine."

"Did she go out again last night?"

"I do not know. I was tired. I went to bed rather early."

Steingall bent over his notes for the first time since Winifred
appeared. His lips were pursed, and he seemed to be weighing certain
facts gravely.

"I think," he said at last, "that I need not detain you any longer,
Miss Bartlett. By the way, I'll give you a note to your employers to say
that you are in no way connected with the crime we have under
investigation. It may, perhaps, save you needless annoyance."

"Thank you, sir," said the girl. "But won't you tell me why you have
asked me so many questions about my aunt and her ways?"

Steingall looked at her thoughtfully before he answered: "In the first
place, Miss Bartlett, tell me this. I assume Miss Craik is your mother's
sister. When did your mother die?"

Winifred blushed with almost childish discomfiture. "It may seem very
stupid to say such a thing," she admitted, "but I have never known
either a father or a mother. My aunt has always refused to discuss our
family affairs in any way whatever. I fear her view is that I am
somewhat lucky to be alive at all."

"Few people would be found to agree with her," said the chief gallantly.
"Now I want you to be brave and patient. A very extraordinary crime has
been committed, and the police occasionally find clues in the most
unexpected quarters. I regret to tell you that Miss Craik is believed to
be in some way connected with the mysterious disappearance, if not the
death, of Mr. Ronald Tower, and she is being held for further
inquiries."

Winifred's face blanched. "Do you mean that she will be kept in prison?"
she said, with a break in her voice.

"She must be detained for a while, but you need not be so alarmed. Her
connection with this outrage may be as harmless as your own, though I
can inform you that, without your knowledge, your house last night
certainly sheltered two men under grave suspicion, and for whom we are
now searching."

"Two men! In our house!" cried the amazed girl.

"Yes. I tell you this to show you the necessity there is for calmness
and reticence on your