uest, which will probably be held Monday."

"And what's more," Captain Strawn cut in, to show his authority, "I want
all of you to hold yourselves ready for further questioning at any
time."

There was a stampede for coats and hats, a rush for cars as if the house
were on fire, or--Dundee reflected wryly--as if those he had tortured
were afraid he would change his mind. Rushing away with hatred of him in
their hearts....

Only Penny Crain held back, maneuvering for a chance to speak with him.

"I don't have to go with the rest, do I?" she begged in a husky whisper.

"And why not?" Dundee grinned at her, but he was glad there was no
hatred in _her_ eyes.

"I'm 'attached' to the district attorney's office, too, aren't I?"

"Right! And you've been a brick this evening. I don't know what I should
have done without you--"

"Well, I can't see that you've done much _with_ me," she gibed. "But I'd
like to stick around, if you're going to do some real Sherlocking--"

"Can't be done, Penny. I want to stay here alone for a while and mull
things over. But I'd like to have a long talk with you tomorrow."

"Come to Sunday dinner. Mother loves murder mysteries," she suggested.
Then realization swept over her. Her brown eyes widened, filled with
terror. "Stop thinking one of us did it! _Stop_, I tell you!"

"Can _you_ stop, Penny?" he asked gently.

But she fled from him, sobbing wildly for the first time that long,
horrible evening. Dundee, watching from the doorway of the lighted hall,
saw the chauffeur open the rear door of the Dunlap limousine, saw Penny
catapult herself into Lois Dunlap's outstretched arms....

"When did the Dunlap chauffeur call for his mistress?" he asked Strawn,
who stood beside him.

"About ten minutes after you arrived," Strawn answered wearily. "Said
he'd dropped Mrs. Dunlap and the Selim woman at about 2:30 and had been
ordered to return around 6:30.... Knows nothing, of course." The chief
of the Homicide Squad drew a deep breath. "Well, Bonnie, he has nothing
on me. In spite of all the palaver I don't know nothing either."

"You need some dinner, chief," Dundee suggested. "And the boys must be
getting hungry, too."

"Somebody's got to guard the house, I suppose," Strawn gloomed. "Not
that it will do any good.... And what about that maid--that Carr woman?
Shall I lock her up on general principles?"

"No. I want to have another talk with her, and if she bucks at spending
the night here, I