what clues I had, the cuff-link, the golf-stick and
the revolver, in a secure place until I could see some reason for
displaying them. The cuff-link had been dropped into a little filigree
box on my toilet table. I opened the box and felt around for it. The
box was empty--the cuff-link had disappeared!

CHAPTER V

GERTRUDE'S ENGAGEMENT

At ten o'clock the Casanova hack brought up three men. They introduced
themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the
city. The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the
aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body. The
other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself
with the outside of the house. It was only after they had got a fair
idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

I received them in the living-room, and I had made up my mind exactly
what to tell. I had taken the house for the summer, I said, while the
Armstrongs were in California. In spite of a rumor among the servants
about strange noises--I cited Thomas--nothing had occurred the first
two nights. On the third night I believed that some one had been in
the house: I had heard a crashing sound, but being alone with one maid
had not investigated. The house had been locked in the morning and
apparently undisturbed.

Then, as clearly as I could, I related how, the night before, a shot
had roused us; that my niece and I had investigated and found a body;
that I did not know who the murdered man was until Mr. Jarvis from the
club informed me, and that I knew of no reason why Mr. Arnold Armstrong
should steal into his father's house at night. I should have been glad
to allow him entree there at any time.

"Have you reason to believe, Miss Innes," the coroner asked, "that any
member of your household, imagining Mr. Armstrong was a burglar, shot
him in self-defense?"

"I have no reason for thinking so," I said quietly.

"Your theory is that Mr. Armstrong was followed here by some enemy, and
shot as he entered the house?"

"I don't think I have a theory," I said. "The thing that has puzzled
me is why Mr. Armstrong should enter his father's house two nights in
succession, stealing in like a thief, when he needed only to ask
entrance to be admitted."

The coroner was a very silent man: he took some notes after this, but
he seemed anxious to make the next train back to town. He set the
inquest for the following Saturda