tell Mr. Jamieson about it right away?"

She held out a piece of ribbon, torn and stained. It was not large, but
there was enough of it to identify it easily. And, as Eleanor looked at
it, she remembered faintly having seen it before.

"What is that? Where did you find it?" she asked, puzzled.

"It's the ribbon Zara wore in her hair, and I found it in the car. It
fell on the floor when he opened the door for us to get out--it must
have been caught there. And do you remember, we got in on the other
side, so that that door wasn't opened then?"

Eleanor looked more puzzled than ever.

"I don't see how that can be Zara's ribbon," she protested. "What would
she have been doing in Mr. Holmes' car? It's just an accident, Bessie.
It's just a coincidence that that ribbon should be there. It might have
belonged to someone else--I'm sure it did, in fact."

"Oh, please, please, I know!" said Bessie. "Won't you let me tell Mr.
Jamieson about it!"

"Oh, yes, course, but he'll say just what I do, Bessie. You mustn't let
this affect you so that you get nervous and hysterical, Bessie. That's
not the way to help Zara."

They were walking toward the building in which Jamieson's offices were
located, and Bessie was hurrying their progress as much as she could.

"I don't like Mr. Holmes. I'm afraid of him," she said. "I know that
sounds dreadful, but it's true--"

"Why, Bessie, how absurd!" she exclaimed. "I've known him for years and
years, and he's one of the nicest, kindest men in town."

"But, Miss Eleanor, do you remember when you asked him about Hedgeville,
he said he'd never been there?"

"Yes, and I thought, as soon as I asked him, that he would probably have
to tell me just that. Hedgeville's out of the way. You never saw
automobile parties on trips going through, did you?"

"No, we didn't. About the only people who came there in automobiles came
to see someone--and usually Farmer Weeks."

"There, you see!"

"But, Miss Eleanor, Mr. Holmes knows all about Hedgeville! He's been
there ever so many times! I thought this morning, as soon as he stopped
to talk to you, that I'd seen him before somewhere, but I wasn't sure."

"Why, what do you mean? Are you sure now?"

"Yes, I was sure the minute he put on those goggles and his cap. He's
driven to Hedgeville a lot in the last year. The last time wasn't more
than three weeks ago, and he was in that same car, and wore the same cap
and goggles."

Eleanor stopped, looking