But now I think
back, her voice sounded queer.... Maybe she _was_ crying, but I don't
know--"
"And this morning?"
"She seemed all right--just excited about the party and worried about my
tooth. Mr. Ralph Hammond come to make the estimates on finishing up the
top floor, and we left him here--"
"What was her attitude toward Mr. Miles when he dropped in on her this
morning?" Dundee interrupted.
"Mr. Miles?" Lydia echoed, frowning. "He wasn't here this morning, or if
he was, it was after Nita and I left for town."
While the maid was packing a bag, which Dundee would examine before she
was allowed to take it away with her, the detective rejoined Tracey
Miles, who had made himself as comfortable as possible in the living
room.
"Lydia's going with you, and is grateful for your wife's kindness,"
Dundee informed him, and felt his heart warm to the boresome,
egotistical little cherub of a man when he saw how Miles' face lit up
with real pleasure. "By the way, Miles, you saw Ralph Hammond when you
called here this morning, didn't you?"
"Yes," Miles answered with some reluctance. "He answered the door when I
rang and told me Lydia and Nita had gone into town."
"Mr. Miles," Dundee began slowly, throwing friendliness and persuasion
into his voice, "I know how all you folks stick together, but I'd
appreciate it a lot if you'd tell me frankly whether you noticed
anything unusual in Hammond's manner this morning.
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