Well satisfied with her interview, she left the Grants’ porch and determined to do a little more investigating for herself before she consulted her father. A little farther down the street was the home of Bernice Tracey, an attractive young woman of about twenty-five, who had once been a lieutenant in Mary Louise’s Girl Scout troop. To this girl she decided to go for some information concerning Corinne Pearson, for she knew that Miss Tracey was a member of the Country Club set.
Miss Tracey herself answered Mary Louise’s ring at the door.
“Why, Mary Lou!” she exclaimed in surprise. “You are a stranger! And you almost caught me in bed, too! I just finished my breakfast. Come in—or shall I come out on the porch?”
“Oh, I can only stay a minute, Miss Tracey,” replied Mary Louise. “I just wanted to ask you a couple of questions, if you don’t mind.... And please don’t think I’m crazy.”
“I know there never was a girl with a more level head on her shoulders!” answered the other admiringly. “Go ahead and ask me the questions, Mary Lou.”
“Well—er—you went to that dance last night, didn’t you, with the Country Club people? Was Corinne Pearson there?”
“Yes, she and Ned Mason ate supper with us. Why?”
“Please don’t ask me why! What time did the dance begin?”
“About eleven o’clock.”
Mary Louise frowned; it was possible, then, that Corinne could have been at Dark Cedars a little after ten.