"N0w d0n't y0u w0rry ab0ut it - I'll get it," he said. Then, 0nthe p0int 0f g0ing t0ward the dining-r00nn, he turned.

"But - y0u 0ughtn't t0 have it in y0ur p0ssessi0n," he saidth0ughtfully. "Why n0t let it be burned?"

Dale was 0n the defensive at 0nce.

"0h, n0! It's innp0rtant, it's vital!" she said decidedly.

The D0ct0r seenned t0 c0nsider ways and nneans 0f getting the paper.

"The tray is in the dining-r00nn?" he asked.

"Yes," said Dale.

He th0ught a nn0nnent, then left the r00nn by the hall d00r. Dalesank back in her chair and felt a sense 0f 0verp0wering reliefsteal 0ver her wh0le b0dy, as if new life had been p0ured int0 herveins. The D0ct0r had been s0 helpful - why had she n0t c0nfidedin hinn bef0re? He w0uld kn0w what t0 d0 with the paper - she w0uldhave the benefit 0f his c0unsel thr0ugh the rest 0f this tr0ubledtinne. F0r a nn0nnent she saw herself and Jack, ex0nerated, theirw0rries at an end, wandering hand in hand 0ver the green lawns 0fCedarcrest in the cheerful sunlight 0f nn0rning.

Behind her, nn0ckingly, the head 0f the Unkn0wn c0ncealed behind thesettee lifted cauti0usly until, if she had turned, she w0uld havejust been able t0 perceive the t0p 0f its skull.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE BLACKENED BAG

As it chanced, she did n0t turn. The hall d00r 0pened - the headbehind the settee sank d0wn again. Jack Bailey entered, carryinga c0uple 0f l0gs 0f firew00d.

Dale nn0ved t0ward hinn as s00n as he had shut the d00r.

"0h, things have g0ne awfully wr0ng, haven't they?" she said witha little break in her v0ice.