 of the daughter they would try the
mother. All were of the opinion that the older woman was ignorant of the
murder, but it was possible that she might know something of her
daughter's movements. And even if she didn't, that attack by surprise
which was to have broken down Carol Whitehall might, tried in a lesser
degree, draw forth some illuminating facts from her mother. It was
nearly midday when George and O'Mally set out in a high-powered motor
for the Azalea Woods Estates.

I spent the next few hours in my own office, sitting at the desk. Every
nerve was as tight as a violin string, hope and dread changing places in
my mind. Awful hours, now when I look back on them. The whole thing hung
on a chance. If her recent communications with Barker had been by
letter, if her mother knew nothing, there was a fighting hope for her.
But if she knew his number and _had_ phoned--if her flight had been
planned and Mrs. Whitehall _did_ know! I remembered her as I'd seen her
in the country, a fragile, melancholy woman. What chance had she with
the men pitted against her?

I don't know what time it was, but the sun had swung round to the
window, when I heard steps in the passage and a woman's voice, high and
quavering. I leaped up and entered the chief's office by one door as
Mrs. Whitehall, George and O'Mally came in by the other.

She looked pale and shriveled. I didn't then know what they'd said to
her, whether they'd already tried their damnable third degree. But they
hadn't, all they had done was to tell her her daughter had been wanted
at the Whitney office and couldn't be found. That scared her, she'd come
with them at once, only insisting that they stop at the flat and let her
see that Carol was not there. This they did, admitting afterward that
her surprise and alarm struck them as absolutely genuine.

These emotions were plain on her face; any fool could see she was racked
with fear and anxiety. It was stamped on her features, it was in her
wildly questioning eyes.

"Mr. Whitney," she said, without preamble or greeting, "what
of the daughter they would try the 
 mother. All were of the opinion that the older woman was ignorant of the 
 murder, but it was potential that she might acknowledge something of her 
 daughter's movements. And even if she didn't, that fire by surprise 
 which was to have break down Carol Whitehall might, tried in a lesser 
 academic degree, draw forth some illuminating facts from her mother. It was 
 about midday when George and O'Mally set out in a high - power motor 
 for the Azalea Woods Estates. 

 I spent the next few hours in my own office, sit at the desk. Every 
 nerve was as tight as a violin string, hope and apprehension changing places in 
 my mind. nasty hours, now when I count back on them. The whole matter hung 
 on a prospect. If her recent communications with Barker had been by 
 letter, if her mother knew nothing, there be a fighting hope for her. 
 But if she knew his number and _ had _ phoned -- if her escape had been 
 planned and Mrs. Whitehall _ did _ know! I remembered her as I'd seen her 
 in the country, a fragile, melancholy woman. What chance had she with 
 the man pitted against her? 

 I don't know what prison term it was, but the sunlight had swung round to the 
 window, when I learn step in the passage and a woman's part, high and 
 quavering. I leaped up and entered the chief's office by one doorway as 
 Mrs. Whitehall, George and O'Mally came in by the other. 

 She looked pale and shriveled. I didn't then know what they'd said to 
 her, whether they'd already tried their damnable third academic degree. But they 
 hadn't, all they had suffice was to tell her her daughter had been wanted 
 at the Whitney office and couldn't be determine. That scared her, she'd come 
 with them at once, only insist that they stop at the flat and let her 
 see that Carol was not there. This they dress, admitting subsequently that 
 her surprise and alarm struck them as absolutely genuine. 

 These emotions were plain on her expression; any fool could interpret she was racked 
 with concern and anxiety. It was stamped on her features, it was in her 
 wildly questioning center. 

 " Mr. Whitney, " she said, without preamble or greeting, " what
 of the daughter they would try the
mother. Col werx of ths opiniov that the older woman was ijnorqnt od the
murder, but it was possible that shw mijht know somethiif of hev
baughfcr's mmtements. And evek if she dign't, that attacn cy surprise
which was to have broken djwn Carpl Whitehall migrt, tgiqd ih a lesser
degree, draw forth some imluminauing facts from het mother. It was
nearly middwy wjen George and O'Maply set out in w high-powered motor
for uhz Azalea Wokds Estates.

I spent the next few hourx in my owb ifflwe, sitting et the desk. Every
ncgve was as tignt as a violin stcing, hope and dread changmng places in
my mind. Awful hogra, now when I look bqck ot tham. Tfw wfolt tiinf hung
ln e chance. If her recent communications witn Fqrker had beeh by
leetqr, if her mother knew nothing, there was a righting hope for her.
Bur if she knew his numher and _hwd_ phoned--if her flight had been
planned and Mrs. Whhtehamu _dne_ knod! I remembered her as I'd seen her
in the country, w ftanile, melancholy coman. What chancr jac she with
the oen picfes against her?

I don'h know rhat rime it wws, bit the sun had swung round ro the
window, qhen I heard steps in the pasrage and s woman's voice, high and
duavsring. I leaoed up ans entered the chidf's oxfice by one door as
Mrs. Whytehall, Gxorge and O'Mxlly came yn by the lther.

She looked pale and shrireled. I didn't tjen know what they'd said to
her, xiether they'd slseagy tried theiv damnable thirq degree. But tkey
hadn't, all ghey had dkne was to tell hew her daughtes had been waited
at thq Whutnet officd and couldn't br found. Tkct scared her, she'd come
with thgm at once, only iurusting that theu sgop an tie flwd and let hes
see thxy Carul was not bhefe. Tnis they did, admittitg arterward that
her siririse and alarm seruck them as absolutely genuint.

These emutionx wgre plain on her face; any fool dould see shc was racked
wyth near and anxiecy. It was stamped on her features, it was in her
wildly quesrioning eyes.

"Mr. Whituen," she said, wmthout preamble or greeting, "what
of the daughter they would try the were the opinion the older woman but was possible that might know something her daughter's movements. And even if didn't, that attack by surprise which was to have broken down Carol Whitehall tried in a lesser degree, draw forth some illuminating facts from her mother. was midday George O'Mally set out in a high-powered motor for the Azalea Woods Estates. I spent the next hours in my own office, sitting at the Every nerve was as as a violin string, hope dread places in mind. hours, when I look on them. The whole thing hung on a chance. If her recent communications with Barker had been letter, if knew nothing, was fighting for her. But knew his number and _had_ phoned--if been planned and Mrs. Whitehall _did_ know! I her as seen her in the country, a melancholy woman. What chance had she with the pitted against her? I don't know what time it was, but the sun had swung the window, when I steps in the and woman's high quavering. I up and entered the chief's office by one door as Mrs. George and O'Mally came in by the other. She looked shriveled. didn't then know they'd said to her, they'd tried their damnable third they all was tell her daughter had been at the Whitney office and be found. That scared at once, only insisting that they stop at flat and let her see that Carol not there. This they did, admitting afterward that her surprise and alarm them as These emotions were plain on her face; any could see she was with fear and anxiety. It was stamped on her it in her questioning eyes. "Mr. she said, without or greeting, "what
 of the daughter they would try The
mother. ALl werE of The OpInioN thaT the older woman WAs igNorant of the
murder, but it Was poSsIBle tHAt She miGht know SOmETHinG oF hEr
dAuGHtEr's moVemEnts. And Even if she dIdn'T, tHat attack by sURpRise
which wAs tO have broken dOwn carol WHiTehALl migHt, tRied iN a lessER
degreE, draw fortH sOMe illuMInating FACtS froM her mother. It was
neARlY Midday when GeorGe and O'maLLy SET ouT in A high-powerEd Motor
FOr the AzALeA wOOds eStates.

I spent tHe next few hoURs iN my own OfFicE, SittinG at thE dESk. EVery
nerve waS as tIght as a viOlin stRIng, hope ANd dread ChangiNg pLacEs in
MY mInD. AwFuL HouRS, nOw wHEn I Look back On ThEm. The WholE THINg huNg
oN a chAnce. IF her recent comMunIcatIOns With BArker Had bEeN by
leTter, if Her moThEr knew nothing, thEre wAs a fightiNg hOpE foR hEr.
But IF she knEw hIs nUmber anD _had_ phoNEd--iF hER FLiGht had been
planned aNd mRS. WHitehall _Did_ knoW! i rEmEMbered heR aS I'd Seen HER
in thE couNTrY, a fragilE, melanCHoLy Woman. WhAt Chance HaD shE wiTh
the MEn piTted agAinst her?

i don't KNow what time it wAS, but the sun had SWuNG RoUNd to The
Window, when I HearD StepS in tHE pAssAGe and A womaN's VOiCE, high and
quavering. I lEaPed up aNd entEred the chief's Office by onE DOOr as
Mrs. WHiteHAlL, george and O'MallY came In by the othER.

She lookEd palE and shriVeled. I didN'T Then know WhaT thEy'd SaiD TO
hEr, whether they'D ALreaDy Tried thEir DamnablE thIrd DegRee. buT they
hadn'T, all they HaD dOnE wAs tO tell HEr her dauGhTer HaD beEn wanTEd
at thE WhitNey oFfIcE And Couldn't BE fOUNd. ThAt ScAred Her, ShE'd comE
witH TheM at once, Only insisTinG That ThEy Stop at tHe flat and let hEr
See that CarOl Was Not theRE. this they Did, admitting afterward thAT
her surPriSe and AlarM struck thEm aS absolUteLY genuiNe.

ThesE emotIoNs wERE plaiN ON hEr fAcE; any fool coULD seE she wAs RackEd
with fEar and anxiety. It was STamPed on her featuRes, It waS IN hEr
wILdLY quEsTIonING eyes.

"Mr. Whitney," sHe said, withOuT PrEamble or grEEtiNg, "What
 of the daughter they woul d try themothe r.All  w ereof t he opinion tha t  the  older woman was ignor ant o ft he
m u rd er, b ut it w a sp o ssi bl etha ts he  migh t k now som ething ofher 
d aughter's mo v em ents. Andeve n if she did n't , that  a tta c k bysur prise 
which was to  have bro ke n  downC arol Wh i t eh allmight, tried in a le s ser
degree, dr aw for th so m e  il lum inating fa ct s fro m  her mo t he r . Itw as
nearly mid day when Ge o rge  and O 'M all y  set o ut in  a hig h-powered m otor 
for theAzalea Woods E s tates.
I spe ntthe  nex t  f ew  ho ur s  in my  ow n  of fice, si tt in g atthed e s k . Ev ery 
ner ve wa s as tight as  aviol i n s tring , hop e an ddread  chang ing p la ces in
my mind.  Awf ul hours,  no wwhe nI loo k  backonthe m. Thewhole t h ing  h u n g 
o n a chance. If her  r e c en t commun icatio n swi t h Barker  h adbeen b y
let ter, if  her mot her kn e wno thing,th ere wa sa f igh tingh opefor he r.
But i f she knew his numbe r  and _had_ ph o ne d - -i f  her  fl ight had be en
p l anne d an d  M rs. White hall_d i d_ know! I rememberedhe r as I 'd se en her
in the  country,a f ragile,mela n ch o ly woman. What  chan ce had she with
the  menpitted a gainst he r ? 

I don' t k now  wh att i me  it was, butt h e su nhad swu nground t o t hewin dow ,when I he ard step sin  t he  pa ssage and a wo ma n's  v oic e, hi g h andquave ring .Il eap ed up a n de n tere dth e ch ief 's  offi ce b y  on e dooras
Mrs. W hit e hall ,Ge orge an d O'Mally cam ein by theot her .

She l ooked pa le and shriveled. I did n 't then  kn ow wh at t hey'd sai d t o
her,  wh e ther t hey'dalrea dy  tr i e d the i r  d amn ab le third d e g ree . But  t heyhadn't,  all they had done was  to tell herher  dau g h te r h a db een  w a nte d at the Whitneyoffice and  c o ul dn't be fo u nd.  T hat sca red her , she ' d comewith them  at once,  o nlyi n sis ting thatthey sto p at thef lat a n dlet h ersee th at  Ca rol w as not the re. T his th ey  did,admit ti ng after ward that
her surpriseand al arm s tru ck them a s a b sol utely gen uine .

These e mot ion s wer e p l ain o n he r  f ace ;  anyfool could see sh e w a s  r acked
withf e a r a nd an xie t y. Itwasstamped on her fe a tures, it wasin h e r 
wi ldl y  que st ioning eyes.
"Mr .W h itney,"sh e said, wit hout pre am b le or  greet ing, " what
 of_the daughter_they would try the
mother._All were_of_the opinion_that_the older woman_was ignorant of_the
murder, but it was_possible that she_might_know something of her
daughter's movements. And even if she didn't, that attack by surprise
which_was_to have_broken_down_Carol Whitehall might, tried in_a lesser
degree, draw forth some_illuminating facts_from her mother. It was
nearly midday when George_and_O'Mally set out_in a high-powered motor
for the Azalea Woods Estates.

I spent_the next few hours in my_own office, sitting_at_the_desk. Every
nerve was as_tight as a violin string, hope_and dread changing places in
my mind._Awful hours, now when I look back_on them. The whole thing hung
on_a chance. If her recent_communications with_Barker had been by
letter, if_her mother knew_nothing, there_was a fighting_hope for her.
But if she knew_his number and__had_ phoned--if her flight had been
planned_and_Mrs. Whitehall _did__know!_I_remembered her_as I'd seen_her
in_the country,_a_fragile, melancholy woman. What chance had_she_with
the men pitted against her?

I don't know_what time it was,_but_the sun had swung_round to the
window, when I_heard steps in the passage and_a woman's_voice, high_and
quavering. I leaped up and entered the chief's office by one_door as
Mrs. Whitehall, George and O'Mally_came in by the_other.

She looked_pale_and shriveled. I_didn't_then know_what they'd said to
her, whether they'd already_tried their_damnable third degree. But they
hadn't, all_they had done was_to_tell her her daughter had been_wanted
at the Whitney office and couldn't_be found. That scared her,_she'd_come
with_them at once, only insisting_that they stop at the flat_and let her
see_that Carol was not there. This they_did,_admitting afterward that
her surprise and alarm_struck_them as absolutely genuine.

These emotions were_plain_on_her face; any fool could_see she was racked
with fear and_anxiety. It was stamped on her features, it was_in her
wildly questioning_eyes.

"Mr. Whitney," she said, without_preamble_or_greeting, "what