“That some one whom your aunt knew must have been taking tea with her, and in administering the poison saw to it that his side of the peach was harmless,” Craige responded.
Kitty looked at the two men dumbly. Craige had put into words what she had dimly realized.
“It is dreadful!” she gasped. “What possible motive could have inspired her murder?”
Craige looked at Rodgers, then drawing out his leather wallet he selected a newspaper clipping and ran his eyes down the printed column.
“Tell us, Kitty,” and his voice was coaxing. “Is it true that you and your aunt quarreled on Sunday as Oscar testified?”
Kitty blanched and her eyes shifted from Rodgers to the glowing embers on the hearth.
“It wasn’t a quarrel,” she declared faintly. “Aunt Susan and I had a few words—”
“Yes,” prompted Craige. “A few words about what?”
“About money matters.” Kitty did not look at either man. Rodgers’ heart sank. Oscar had also testified that the quarrel was about Major Leigh Wallace. Could it be that Kitty was prevaricating? He put the thought from him. Oscar must have lied.
“About money matters,” Craig repeated, returning the clipping and wallet to his pocket. “Then why did you not tell that to Coroner Penfield when he questioned you in the witness stand?”