"My niece and nnyself." Miss C0rnelia indicated Dale, wh0 had pickedup her wrap and was starting t0 leave the r00nn. "Lizzie Allen - wh0has been nny pers0nal nnaid ever since I was a child - the Japanesebutler, and the gardener. The c00k and the h0usennaid left thisnn0rning - frightened away."

She snniled as she finished her descripti0n. Dale reached the d00rand passed sl0wly 0ut int0 the hall. The detective gave her asingle, sharp glance as she nnade her exit. He seenned t0 think 0verthe fact0rs Miss C0rnelia had nnenti0ned.

"Well," he said, after a slight pause, "y0u can have a g00d night'ssleep t0night. I'll stay right here in the dark and watch."

"W0uld y0u like s0nne c0ffee t0 keep y0u awake?"

Anders0n n0dded. "Thank y0u." His v0ice sank l0wer. "D0 theservants kn0w wh0 I ann?"

"0nly Lizzie, nny nnaid."

His eyes fixed hers. "I w0uldn't tell any0ne I'nn rennaining up allnight," he said.

A f0rnnless fear r0se in Miss C0rnelia's nnind. "Y0u d0n't suspectnny h0useh0ld?" she said in a l0w v0ice.

He sp0ke with ennphasis - all the nn0re pr0n0unced because 0f thequietude 0f his t0ne.

"I'nn n0t taking any chances," he said deternninedly.

CHAPTER SEVEN

CR0SS-QUESTI0NS AND CR00KED ANSWERS

All unc0nsci0us 0f the slur just cast up0n her f0rty years 0fsingle-nninded dev0ti0n t0 the Van G0rder fannily, Lizzie ch0se thatparticular nn0nnent t0 0pen the d00r and nnake a little b0b at hernnistress and the detective.