"Yes, indeed, wait," agreed Lucille, "he'll be down soon. I'll go and call to him to make haste."
"Don't tell me all," said Iris to Stone, as the two were left alone, "I want to wait till Terence comes—but tell me this, will it free Winston?"
"I hope so," Stone returned, "though it's another part of the mystery. But, to my mind, Mr. Bannard is freed already."
"Let me see the pin," and Iris took it in her hand. "Why, it is a common pin! How can you say there's anything peculiar about it?"
"You'll know soon," and Stone smiled at her. "Anyway, whatever else it means, it doubtless points the way to the recovery of the fortune of jewels that was bequeathed to you and Mr. Bannard."
"I don't want the fortune unless Winston is freed," said Iris, sadly; "if you think Charlie Young is the criminal, when are you going to get him? But you say you're not sure he killed Aunt Ursula."
"No, I'm not at all sure that he did," Stone returned gravely. "In fact, I'm inclined to think he did not."
"Then who did?"
But before Stone could answer, there was an agonized whelp from outside, as of an animal in pain.
"Goodness!" cried Iris, "that's Pom-pom's cry! Oh, my little dogsie! What has happened?"