Jim Dacey turned abruptly, however, and entered the sitting room.
Chick heard him shout to the deaf housekeeper and order her to go to bed. She came out with a lamp in a few moments, and Chick saw her disappear up a back stairway.
She scarce had vanished when Floyd, or Kate Crandall, still in male attire, came through the cellar doorway and was joined in the hall by Dacey, who asked abruptly, with a look of grim misgivings:
“Where is Sheldon? What’s turned him so sour and——”
“Cut it!” Kate sharply whispered, audible to Chick. “He must not hear us. I have something to say to you. I have ordered him to watch the laundry door till Moran returns.”
“Where has he gone?”
“To house the car. He’ll not show up for several minutes. That will give me time to explain.”
“Explain what?”
“Come into the sitting room. I’ll soon tell you.”
“You’ll tell me, also, you jade, and I’ll wager I will make the most of it,” thought Chick, watching the couple enter the room and noting that they only partly closed the door. “Unless I am much mistaken, by Jove, I shall now get the key to the whole mystery.”