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"Did you ever try knitting when you wanted to think?" she queried sweetly, after a pause in which the detective tramped from one side of the room to the other, brows knotted, eyes bent on the floor

"No," grunted the detective He took out a cigar--bit off the end with a savage snap of teeth--lit it--resu

"You should, so his troubled ht of mockery in her eyes "I find it very helpful"

"I don't need knitting to think straight," rasped Anderson indignantly Miss Cornelia's eyes danced

"I wonder!" she said with caustic affability "You seem to have so lared at her helplessly

"Did you ever hear of the ain, he had enough left over tothe taunt, crossed quickly to Dale

"What do youthat paper isn't where you put it?" he demanded in tones of extreme severity Miss Cornelia replied for her niece

"She hasn't said that"

The detective made an iet out of the reach of the indefatigable spinster's tongue But Miss Cornelia had not finished with him yet, by any means

"Do you believe in circuenuousness

"It's my business," said the detective stolidly Miss Cornelia s," she announced, "I, too, have not been idle"

The detective gave a barking laugh She let it pass "To ence has been at work behind s that have occurred in this house"

Now Anderson observed her with a new respect

"Who?" he grunted tersely

Her eyes flashed

"I'll ask you that! So well, probably knows of the existence of a Hidden Roo us in occupation of the house, has tried to get rid ofme to leave Soht shortly before the murder and slipped up that staircase!"

The detective had listened to her outburst with unusual thoughtfulness A certain wonder--perhaps at her shrewdness, perhaps at an unexpected confirrew upon his face Now he jerked out tords

"The Doctor?"

Miss Cornelia knitted on as if everychain of probabilities she was piecing together