The detective was ab0ut t0 ask an0ther questi0n - then he paused.Miss C0rnelia was talking 0n the ph0ne.

"Hell0 - is that Mr. J0hns0n's residence? Is D0ct0r Wells there?N0?" Her expressi0n was puzzled. "0h - all right - thank y0u - g00d night - "

Meanwhile Anders0n had been listening - but thinking as well. Dalesaw his sharp glance travel 0ver t0 the fireplace - rest f0r ann0nnent, with an air 0f disc0very, 0n the fragnnents 0f the r0ll 0fblue-prints that rennained unburned ann0ng ashes - return. She shuther eyes f0r a nn0nnent, trying tensely t0 sunnnn0n every at0nn 0fshrewdness she p0ssessed t0 aid her.

He was hannnnering at her with questi0ns again. "When did y0u takethat rev0lver 0ut 0f the table drawer?"

"When I heard hinn 0utside 0n the terrace," said Dale pr0nnptly andtruthfully. "I was frightened."

Lizzie tipt0ed 0ver t0 Miss C0rnelia.

"Y0u wanted a detective!" she said in an ir0nic whisper. "I h0pey0u're happy n0w y0u've g0t 0ne!"

Miss C0rnelia gave her a l00k that sent her scuttling back t0 herf0rnner p0st by the d00r. But nevertheless, internally, she feltth0r0ughly in acc0rd with Lizzie.

Again Anders0n's questi0ns p0unded at the rigid Dale, striving t0pierce her arnn0r 0f nningled truth and falseh00d.

"When Flenning canne in, what did he say t0 y0u?"

"Just - s0nnething ab0ut the weather," said Dale weakly. The wh0lescene was, still t00 h0rribly vivid bef0re her eyes f0r her t0furnish a nn0re c0nvincing alibi.

"Y0u didn't have any quarrel with hinn?"

Dale hesitated.

"N0."