his mouth, "that Fenton's blundering into my plans will not
be serious, after all. Indeed, it may be turned to account." The
singular eyes went to the girl. "You are interested in this case, Miss
Cavanaugh, and so is Scanlon. Why not go with Mr. Quigley and myself,
and witness its solution."

"Fenton will spot us," said Scanlon. He had still a hope of doing what
he and Nora had set out to do, and the pallor of her beautiful face and
the misery in her eyes urged him to lose no chance. Once out of sight of
the keen eyes of the investigator, he and the girl could take a taxi and
make for Stanwick with all speed.

"Not if we go by motor," said Ashton-Kirk, in answer to his objections.
"We can do that and make as good time as the local."

"Taxicabs are so small," said Nora, as they descended a long flight of
steps to the street. "Four will crowd one so."

In her mind was the same thought as in that of Bat's. Once let them
divide into two parties--she and Scanlon making one--and she was quite
sure that _their_ cab would be the first at No. 620 Duncan Street. But
the investigator dashed this hope by leading the way, when they reached
the street, to where some touring cars were to hire near the station.

"These," said he, quietly, "will be comfortable."

There was a businesslike young man in charge of the first of the cars,
and he made his bargain, cranked his engine, received his orders and
started off in an amazingly brief time. Inside of twenty minutes the
suburbs, with their long rows of villa-like buildings, and their wide
and smoothly paved streets, began to swing past them.

"I have your interest to thank, Miss Cavanaugh," said Ashton-Kirk, "for
bringing this case to my attention--as a participant, that is. There has
been a simplicity in it which has attracted me from the start, and, at
the same time, a curious interweaving of threads which, under almost any
other set of circumstances, would have been as wide apart as the poles.
Scanlon has gone partly over the route with me, and because of this
interweaving I have had considerable trouble in preventing his jumping
at conclusions--in taking appearance for granted without waiting for
proof. I am not sure how far I kept him from error," with a nod and a
laugh, "for several times I believe he has gone the length of suspecting
you."

Nora made no reply to this, but Scanlon said:

"I have believed she did it; everything pointed that way. But I never
blamed her, for