finishing with bridge for the afternoon, and
beckoned to her. She joined me in the solarium, and we stayed there
until Karen screamed.... That's all."

"Have you been engaged long, Mr. Hammond--you and Miss Beale?" Dundee
asked, as if quite casually.

"Nearly a year,--if it's any of your business, Dundee!"

"And just when had you seen Miss Beale last, before late this
afternoon?" Dundee asked.

"I refuse to answer!" Hammond flared. "That at least is none of your
damned business!"

"I believe I can answer my own question, Mr. Hammond," Dundee said very
softly.

CHAPTER EIGHT

"Then why ask me?" Hammond shrugged, but his eyes flickered toward Polly
Beale.

"I thought perhaps you could give me a little additional information,"
Dundee soothed him. "You see, it happens that I saw you, Miss Beale and
another young man come into the Stuart House dining room about half past
one today, just when I was thinking of lunch for myself."

"The mysterious 'other young man' was Clive's brother, Ralph Hammond,"
Polly Beale cut in brusquely.

"Your decision to lunch with your fiance and his brother was quite a
sudden one?" Dundee asked courteously. "Just when did you change your
mind about Mrs. Selim's luncheon party at Breakaway Inn, Miss Beale?"

The tall girl threw up her mannishly cropped, chestnut head. "There is
nothing at all sinister or even queer about it, Mr. Dundee! I was on my
way to the luncheon, when I decided to drive past Nita's house, on the
chance that she might like me to drive her over."

"Then you didn't know that Mrs. Dunlap had already arranged to meet Mrs.
Selim downtown this morning and to take her to the Inn?" Dundee asked.

"No! I didn't hear of the arrangement," Polly answered decidedly.

"You were a close friend of Mrs. Selim's perhaps?" Dundee prodded.

"Not at all! But that would not keep me from doing my hostess a
courtesy.... She hated her Ford and liked expensive cars," Polly added
unemotionally. "It was about a quarter to one when I got here, I should
say. Nita wasn't here, nor was her maid, but I saw Ralph's car parked in
front of the house--"

"_Ralph Hammond's car?_" a woman squealed, but Dundee let Polly
continue.

"I rang and he answered the door. Said he was alone in the house, going
over the premises at Judge Marshall's request," Polly said evenly.

"That's right--that's right!" Judge Marshall agreed hastily. "Nita--Mrs.
Selim--wanted the unfinished half of the gabl