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At dinner Mr Ja a man out in his place for a

couple of days, but Halsey was certain there would be nothing e the situation The detective went

back to town early in the evening, and by nine o'clock Halsey, who had

been playing golf--as ato take hisleather davenport in the

living-roo not to notice when Gertrude got up and

wandered out into the starlight As soon as I was satisfied that she

had gone, however, I went out cautiously I had no intention of

eavesdropping, but I wanted to be certain that it was Jack Bailey she

was s had occurred in which Gertrude was, or

appeared to be, involved, to allow anything to be left in question

I went slowly across the lawn, skirted the hedge to a break not far

froe, and found myself on the open road Perhaps a hundred

feet to the left the path led across the valley to the Country Club,

and only a little way off was the foot-bridge over Casanova Creek But

just as I was about to turn down the path I heard steps co toward

back quickly

toward the house

I was surprised I waited until she had had tiet almost to the

house before I started And then I stepped back again into the