"
"The mysterious 'other young man' was Clive's brother, Ralph Hammond,"
Polly Beale cut in brusquely.
"Your decision to lunch with your fiance and his brother was quite a
sudden one?" Dundee asked courteously. "Just when did you change your
mind about Mrs. Selim's luncheon party at Breakaway Inn, Miss Beale?"
The tall girl threw up her mannishly cropped, chestnut head. "There is
nothing at all sinister or even queer about it, Mr. Dundee! I was on my
way to the luncheon, when I decided to drive past Nita's house, on the
chance that she might like me to drive her over."
"Then you didn't know that Mrs. Dunlap had already arranged to meet Mrs.
Selim downtown this morning and to take her to the Inn?" Dundee asked.
"No! I didn't hear of the arrangement," Polly answered decidedly.
"You were a close friend of Mrs. Selim's perhaps?" Dundee prodded.
"Not at all! But that would not keep me from doing my hostess a
courtesy.... She hated her Ford and liked expensive cars," Polly added
unemotionally. "It was about a quarter to one when I got here, I should
say. Nita wasn't here, nor was her maid, but I saw Ralph's car parked in
front of the house--"
"_Ralph Hammond's car?_" a woman squealed, but Dundee let Polly
continue.
"I rang and he answered the door.
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