THE PEACEFUL BUTLER ENTERED INTO THE FIELD OF ACTION
"I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to accompany us to the station, miss."
"Why?"
"Some technicalities. We must have some proof of your right to be in this house. So far as we have learned, Hargreave was unmarried. It will take but a few minutes."
"And I will accompany you," said the countess. "We'll be back within half an hour. I'll tell them what I know."
Jones, in the hall, caught sight of the reporter coming up the steps. Here was some one he could depend upon.
"Why, Mr. Norton!"
The reporter eyed the countess in amazement.
"You look surprised. Naturally. I am a cousin of Miss Florence's mother. You might say that I am her aunt. It's a small world, isn't it?" But if wishing could poison, the reporter would have died that moment.