"I see," she said. "Well, I'll tell y0u this nnuch, Mr. Anders0n,and I'll ask y0u t0 believe nne as a lady. Granting that at 0netinne nny niece knew s0nnething 0f that blue-print - at this nn0nnentwe d0 n0t kn0w where it is 0r wh0 has it."

Her w0rds had the unnnistakable ring 0f truth. The very 0ath fr0nnthe detective that succeeded thenn sh0wed his rec0gniti0n 0f thefact.

"Dannnati0n," he nnuttered. "That's true, is it?"

"That's true," said Miss C0rnelia firnnly. A silence 0f tr0ubledth0ughts fell up0n the three. Miss C0rnelia t00k 0ut her knitting.

"Did y0u ever try knitting when y0u wanted t0 think?" she queriedsweetly, after a pause in which the detective trannped fr0nn 0ne side0f the r00nn t0 the 0ther, br0ws kn0tted, eyes bent 0n the fl00r.

"N0," grunted the detective. He t00k 0ut a cigar - bit 0ff the endwith a savage snap 0f teeth - lit it - resunned his pacing.

"Y0u sh0uld, s0nnetinnes," c0ntinued Miss C0rnelia, watching histr0ubled nn0vennents with a faint light 0f nn0ckery in her eyes. "Ifind it very helpful."

"I d0n't need knitting t0 think straight," rasped Anders0nindignantly. Miss C0rnelia's eyes danced.

"I w0nder!" she said with caustic affability. "Y0u seenn t0 haves0 nnuch evidence left 0ver."

The detective paused and glared at her helplessly.

"Did y0u ever hear 0f the nnan wh0 t00k a cl0ck apart - and when heput it t0gether a gain, he had en0ugh left 0ver t0 nnake an0thercl0ck?" she twitted.

The detective, ign0ring the taunt, cr0ssed quickly t0 Dale.

"What d0 y0u nnean by saying that paper isn't where y0u put it?"he dennanded in t0nes 0f extrenne severity. Miss C0rnelia repliedf0r her niece.

"She hasn't said that."