“Only Mina and I, aside from our several servants.”
“I see.”
“It was Arthur’s wish that the wedding should take place in the home he is to occupy. So he bought this fine estate of several acres and then built and furnished this beautiful residence. It was completed nearly three weeks ago.”
“It certainly is a fine place and a fine house,” Nick admitted, glancing around.
“I since have been living here with Mina, while she has been making preparations for the wedding,” Strickland went on. “Mr. Gordon has been living at home with his parents, in Riverside Drive, all the while, but he has been coming out here each afternoon after business hours[Pg 4] to direct the laborers who still are at work on various parts of the estate.”
“Was he here yesterday afternoon?” Nick inquired.
“Yes, until nearly six o’clock.”
“And then?”
“We supposed he would return to dinner at that time, as usual, and we sent one of the servants to call him from the golf links, where he went to supervise the work of some of the laborers. The servant returned in a few moments and stated that Mr. Gordon had gone.”
“Gone where?”