it was a horrible thing to have to do--told me
a whole bunch of facts that ought to be very, very useful."

"For instance?" Strawn growled.

"For instance," Dundee answered, "it told me that it took approximately
eight minutes to play out a little slam bid, when ordinarily it would
have taken not more than two or three minutes. Not only that, but it
told me the names of everyone in _this_ party who could have killed Nita
Selim, and--. Good Lord! Of course!"

And to Captain Strawn's amazement Dundee threw open the door of Nita's
big clothes closet, jerked on the light, and stooped to the floor.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Almost immediately Special Investigator Dundee rose from his crouching
position on the floor of Nita Selim's closet, and faced the chief of the
Homicide Squad of Hamilton's police force.

"I think," he said quietly, for all the excitement that burned in his
blue eyes, "that we'd better have Mrs. Miles in for a few questions."

"What have you got there--a dance program?" Strawn asked curiously, but
as Dundee continued to stare silently at the thing he held, the older
man strode to the door and relayed the order to a plainclothes
detective.

"I sent for _Mrs._ Miles," Dundee said coldly, when husband and wife
appeared together, Flora's thin, tense shoulders encircled by Tracey's
plump arm.

"If you're going to badger my wife further, I intend to be present,
sir!" Miles retorted, thrusting out his chest.

"Very well!" Dundee conceded curtly. "Mrs. Miles, why didn't you tell me
in the first place that you were _in this room_ when Nita Selim was
shot?"

"Because I wasn't--in--in the room," Flora protested, clinging with both
thin, big-veined hands to her husband's arm.

"Sir, you have no proof of this absurd accusation, and I shall
personally take this matter up--"

"I have the best of proof," Dundee said quietly, and took his hand from
his pocket. "You recognize this, Mrs. Miles?... You admit that it is the
tally card you used while playing bridge this afternoon?"

"No, no! It isn't mine!" Flora cried hysterically, cringing against her
husband, who began to protest in a voice falsetto with rage.

Dundee ignored his splutterings. "May I point out that it is identical
with the other tally cards used at Mrs. Selim's party today, and that on
its face it bears your name, 'Flora'?" and he politely extended the card
for her inspection.

"I--yes, it _must_ be mine, but I was _not_ in this room when