Turning to rain,Holt announced, looking up at the
sky. Andthe way Leslies looking at me, I suppose I ought to add, I had a
nicetime.
He went to his closet, removed a tie and drewit
around his neck.
Suppose hehovered about in hall, desiring one final
word with his former wife.
Would he thenhave departed, leaving door unlocked
for any passer-by to enter? The meal was eaten for the most part in
silence.
By golly, thats right, agreed the
sheriff.
Wonder how well find all the folks at Pineview, the
sheriff saidpresently.
Tell me, is there train to Oakland this morning?
But hetold me to go back to bed, and forget it. Ah, yes, from murderersstandpoint,
this would be wiser course. He turned about, to give Sing the full
effect.
You have told me that you and Madame Landini worked
on herbiography together. I assuredly did, and I believe he was the man we
seek.
He got out his flash-light and, to his surprise,
found itstill working.
The falling snow was rapidly covering these tracks,
but they seemed freshones, none the less.
Or would he, instead, see new delightful path for
blackmailopening up before his dazzled eyes? Wemay as well take this man down to the
village. And in my room last night, he said, you, yourself, hinted at
knowingsomething, too. I saw a shadowy figure, hurrying up the steps, andfairly
running along the road.
And this, I believe,is the fitting day for
it.
Had one of his charges escaped from his care? Its
windows were closed and shutteredfor the winter, no sign of life was anywhere about
it. In spite of his care, however, hisdiscarded weapons may yet tell us
much.
All I can say is, Itrust this new murder will speed
your search, for speed is what I mostdesire. He despises him, and with manygood
reasons. And here I am, too tangled up inmurder to enjoy the thought. Breakfast
ready now, announced Sing, from the rear.
I followed hisfootprints to the road, where they
turned in this direction. The amateurstudent of trees was again immersed in thoughts
of his favorite line ofresearch.
You walked the two miles or more from the Tavern?