"but depend on it, Mr. Jamieson, Halsey will be
back himself to explain everything."

"I sincerely hope so," he said. "Miss Innes, has it occurred to you
that Mr. Bailey might know something of this?"

Gertrude had come down-stairs and just as he spoke she came in. I saw
her stop suddenly, as if she had been struck.

"He does not," she said in a tone that was not her own. "Mr. Bailey
and my brother know nothing of this. The murder was committed at
three. They left the house at a quarter before three."

"How do you know that?" Mr. Jamieson asked oddly. "Do you KNOW at what
time they left?"

"I do," Gertrude answered firmly. "At a quarter before three my
brother and Mr. Bailey left the house, by the main entrance.
I--was--there."

"Gertrude," I said excitedly, "you are dreaming! Why, at a quarter to
three--"

"Listen," she said. "At half-past two the downstairs telephone rang.
I had not gone to sleep, and I heard it. Then I heard Halsey answer
it, and in a few minutes he came up-stairs and knocked at my door.
We--we talked for a minute, then I put on my dressing-gown and
slippers, and went down-stairs with him. Mr. Bailey was in the
billiard-room. We--we all talked together for perhaps ten minutes.
Then it was decided that--that they should both go away--"

"Can't you be more explicit?" Mr. Jamieson asked. "WHY did they go
away?"

"I am only telling you what happened, not why it happened," she said
evenly. "Halsey went for the car, and instead of bringing it to the
house and rousing people, he went by the lower road from the stable.
Mr. Bailey was to meet him at the foot of the lawn. Mr. Bailey left--"

"Which way?" Mr. Jamieson asked sharply.

"By the main entrance. He left--it was a quarter to three. I know
exactly."

"The clock in the hall is stopped, Miss Innes," said Jamieson. Nothing
seemed to escape him.

"He looked at his watch," she replied, and I could see Mr. Jamieson's
snap, as if he had made a discovery. As for myself, during the whole
recital I had been plunged into the deepest amazement.

"Will you pardon me for a personal question?" The detective was a
youngish man, and I thought he was somewhat embarrassed. "What are
your--your relations with Mr. Bailey?"

Gertrude hesitated. Then she came over and put her hand lovingly in
mine.

"I am engaged to marry him," she said simply.

I had grown so accustomed to surprises that I could only gasp again,
and as for Gertrud