Russell hesitated, swung about and stalked into the other room, where he dropped into a chair near Mrs. Graham.
CHAPTER XIII
“A BIT OF A RISK”
Leaving Russell in the library, Landis went back to the billiard-room where he found Allen in an easy chair smoking and looking thoughtfully into the fire.
Allen rose at once and followed him to the drawing-room, sat down with a slight smile and eyed the two detectives inquiringly. They studied him in silence for a few seconds as they had studied Russell.
He was of an entirely different type. Though tall, like Russell, he was slender and wiry rather than muscular. His hair was very dark. His eyes were quick and sharp and almost black. A small black moustache shadowed his small firm mouth. He bore himself with an easy grace and had the smooth brown skin of excellent health. In manner and appearance Allen conveyed the correct and sophisticated nonchalance of a popular young bachelor. There was nothing in his face or pose to indicate the trend of his thoughts.
He gave them his name as Frederick Allen and stated his address in New York. Anita Harrison and he were old friends, hence his presence in the house, he explained.
Landis asked much the same questions he had asked the others. Allen could not tell them who had locked the door at the end of the wing or closed the door into the library. He had noticed the Japanese bow, but only in its place across the back of the lay figure. He endorsed Russell’s statement that they had followed the girls through the billiard-room to the hall, then turned back to their rooms. He had not noticed the library door at that time nor seen anything at all suspicious about the house or in the grounds that day.
At this point Allen crossed his knees and leaned back. Looking down, Landis noticed a rim of wet earth about the heel of his dress shoe. He pointed at it.
“You’ve been outdoors since dinner, eh?” he inquired.