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"If what Lizzie says is true," she said, taking her candle, "the upper floors of the house are even less safe than this one"

"I iine Lizzie's account just now is about as reliable as her previous one as to her age," Anderson assured her "I'et your beauty sleep; I'uous re

It was after she had gone that Anderson's glance fell on Brooks, standing warily in the doorway

"What are you? The gardener?"

But Brooks was prepared for him

"Ordinarily I drive a car," he said "Just now I' hi his memory for a name--a picture "I've seen you so" There was a little threat in his shrewd scrutiny He took a step toward Brooks

"Not in the portrait gallery at headquarters, are you?"

"Not yet" Brooks's voice was resentful Then he rerew supple, his whole attitude that of the respectful servant

"Well, we slip up now and then," said the detective slowly Then, apparently, he gave up his search for the name--the pictured face But his ht, Brooks," he said tersely, "if you're needed in the night, you'll be called!"

Brooks bowed "Very well, sir" He closed the door softly behind hilad to have escaped as well as he had

But that he had not entirely lulled the detective's watchfulness to rest was evident as soon as he had gone Anderson waited a few seconds, then moved noiselessly over to the hall door--listened--opened it suddenly--closed it again Then he proceeded to exa eye had wavered like a corpse-candle before Lizzie's affrighted vision He tested the terrace door and bolted it How much truth had there been in her story? He could not decide, but he drew out his revolver nevertheless and gave it a quick inspection to see if it was in working order A serous work to do and does not shrink from the prospect He put the revolver back in his pocket and, taking the one lighted candle re, went out by the hall door, as the stor-room rattled before a new reverberation of thunder

For a -room, except for the thunder, all was silence Then the creak of surreptitious footsteps broke the stillness--light footsteps descending the alcove stairs where the glea eye had passed