“What has happened?”
“Stone Cottage is haunted,” was the staggering reply.
“Haunted?”
She nodded and a momentary smile came into her eyes, only to fade as quickly as it came.
“Not by a ghost,” she said, “but by a very human man, a mysterious individual in black. The woman who looks after me saw him the other night in the garden: I myself have seen him from my window and challenged him. He has been seen by other people pacing the road outside. Now tell me honestly, Tab Holland, am I under the observation of the police?”
The thought had also occurred to Tab.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “Carver does not tell me everything, but he has never mentioned your name to me as being under the slightest suspicion. In black, you say?”
“Yes,” nodded the girl. “From head to foot in black, including black gloves. It was rather spectacular——”
“Black gloves?” interrupted Tab. “I wonder if it is my burglar?” and he told her of the visitor who had come the night before.
“It is extraordinary,” she said, “more extraordinary because he was not seen last night. I am not usually nervous, but I must confess that it is a little worrying to know that somebody is watching me.”