“Who is it?” was the query.
“Mary Louise Gay. May I come in, Miss Stoddard?”
The woman turned the key in the lock and opened the door. She was dressed in a kimono and slippers.
“You’re too late, Miss Gay,” she said. “Miss Weinberger has already eloped. I’m sure of it. I saw her get into a taxi this afternoon, and one of the maids came out and brought her her suitcase. She probably had hidden it somewhere from her mother. She’s probably married by now—and run off with all the money and jewelry from Stoddard House!”
“Oh!” gasped Mary Louise in dismay. “Why wasn’t I here! Did you see the man, Miss Stoddard?”
“No—unless he was the taxi driver. But I didn’t even get a good look at him.”
“Probably she was to join him somewhere. He wouldn’t risk coming near the house in broad daylight if he was the burglar who entered my room.”
“No, that’s true.”
“If Hortense Weinberger really is married,” said Mary Louise, “don’t you suppose her mother will hear about it tomorrow? And if I keep in touch with her mother, I ought to see the man when he comes back from the honeymoon.”
“Mrs. Weinberger was planning to leave Stoddard House tomorrow,” returned Miss Stoddard.