“The question—or at least one of them—” said Hal, “is what became of the man or men who attacked Luke? Where did they go?”
“They must have slipped past Ruth and me and gotten out the rear outside cellar door,” suggested Neale.
“I’m sure no one passed us,” asserted Ruth.
“Then the only other way they could have gotten out would be to have come up into the kitchen,” declared Neale.
“And I know they didn’t do that!” said Agnes.
“Is there any entrance to your cellar that isn’t much used—a side door or anything?” asked Luke, turning to Ruth.
“None that I know of,” she answered. “Perhaps Uncle Rufus might know.”
“’Deed, missie, I doan know ob any,” declared the colored man. “De back do’ an’ de one from de kitchen—das all.”
“Well, we’ll look into it in the morning,” murmured Luke, wearily passing his hand over his head, which was now aching severely.
“You must get right to bed,” declared Ruth. “Indeed, I’m not sure but what I’d better send for Dr. Forsyth.”