d, if that's what you mean. I've always thought it's a habit of hers
to hide her real thoughts behind apparent absurdities."

"I had wondered about that," Garth said with satisfaction. "One more
thing. There has been talk among the servants of spirits, of moans."

She shivered.

"I know nothing about that," she said, "except that the house is
unbearable. That is one reason I decided on this long visit, why I
shrank from coming home."

"Unbearable?" Garth helped her out.

"Old, moldy, and depressing. My husband, I think, believed in it a
little. I've heard him and my mother talk about a figure who sometimes
walked. I laughed at that, and I laughed when they heard moans. You see
the wind often cries in the narrow space between us and the high wall of
the next house. I've never liked it here. It depresses me too much.
That's all."

"Thanks," Garth said. "You will want time to accustom yourself. Rest
assured I will do everything I can to get the truth."

"You must," she said tensely, "and don't hesitate to disturb me if I can
be of any use."

As they went out the resonance of Reed's undertone reached Garth.

"Helen. You are giving this man's suspicion too much weight. He seems to
have no evidence."

After the door had closed Garth telephoned the inspector, suggesting
that the house be guarded in order that he might have McDonald, Clara,
and the old lady at hand.

"I'll give instructions," the throaty rumble of the inspector came back,
"to arrest any one who tries to make a getaway."

Garth hurried to the kitchen. The night was nearly complete there, but,
as he entered, he caught a swift, silent movement from the servants'
stairs. He walked to the entrance.

"I thought so."

The girl Clara shrank from him in the shadows. She wore a hat and cloak.
She carried a hand bag.

"If you don't want yourself locked up, charged with murder, take those
things off," Garth said. "From this moment the house is watched, and any
one attempting to leave will be arrested."

The girl commenced to cry again.

"I am afraid," she sobbed. "Afraid."

Garth turned on the light.

"Take me," he directed her, "to the room occupied by the housekeeper."

Shaken and uncertain, Clara led him to a room at the head of the stairs,
which, Garth found, had a second door opening into the upper hall of the
front portion of the house. The room displayed a taste seldom found
among servants. His examination of it from the first spurred Garth