Part 12 (1/2)
”I saw no one but the servants--though I didn't look quite all the time,” she added with a smile. ”I'm not unduly curious, I think, Major Ranleigh, under the, to me, unusual circ.u.mstances; and in mitigation of my curiosity, I've told no one of the matter.”
”You're a woman of rare discretion, Mrs. Winton,” the Superintendent replied.
”I fear I'm a busy-body,” she returned.
”I wish then there were more busy-bodies of your sort. Tell me, could you recognize the men?”
”Not with any a.s.surance.--Neither could I recognize the occupants of the house,” she added. ”The truth is, though you may doubt, that I scarcely notice them; but one can't see a to-let-unfurnished sign on a house opposite for six months, without remarking its sudden disappearance from the landscape.”
”I should say that you wouldn't be normal if you didn't notice--and comment, too,” Ranleigh declared. ”And the Department is much indebted to you for the information, and it appreciates the spirit that moves you in the matter.”
Mrs. Winton arose to go--the Superintendent accompanied her into the hall, rang the bell for the elevator, and bowed her into it.
”Don't you wish to know the result?” he inquired with a quizzical smile, as he put her in the car.
”I'm not unduly curious!” she laughed.
When he returned, Harleston was standing in his office lighting a cigarette.
”It's infernally close, not to mention hot, in that cabinet of yours,”
he observed; ”though one can see and hear.”
”Ever see her before?” the Superintendent asked.
”I don't recall it!”
”Ever hear the voice?”
”No.”
”What do you think of her?”
”Good to look at, truthful, sincere.”
”And her story?”
”Simple statement of fact, I take it.”
”Hum!” said Ranleigh.
”Which means?” Harleston asked.
”Nothing at present; may be nothing at any time. I never believe a story till its truth is established--and then I'm still in a receptive state of mind. However, it does seem true, and Mrs. Winton herself supports it; which is enough for the time.”
”At any rate, we've found the lady of the cab,” Harleston remarked. ”Or rather we've located her as of one o'clock, which is shortly before I happened on the scene.”
”Is there anything in the description that corresponds to the lady of the photograph?”
”It all corresponds; slight, above medium-height, dark gown--she affects dark gowns;--but thousands of women are slight, above medium-height, and wear dark gowns.”