“Wasn’t this a general rule?”

“’Most always; but sometimes somebody I’d know’d come, like Mr. Talcott or Miss Olive, and they’d just nod or smile at me and walk right in at Mr. Gately’s door. So I says, ‘Yes, sir,’ and I looked sharp that nobody rushed me. Mr. Gately, he trusted me, and I was careful to do just what he said, always.”

“Well, go on. Who called?”

“First, Mr. Smith; and then Mrs. Driggs; and after them, Miss Olive.”

“Miss Raynor?”

“Yes, of course!” and Jenny spoke flippantly. “I even announced her, ’cause I had strick orders. Miss Olive, she just laughed and waited till I come back and said she might go in.”

“What time was this?”

“Couldn’t say for sure. ’Long about two or three, I guess.”

Jenny was assiduously chewing gum, and her manner was far from deferential, which annoyed the Chief.

“Try to remember more nearly,” he said, sharply. “Was Miss Raynor there before or after the other two callers you mentioned?”

“Well, now, it’s awful hard to tell that.” Jenny cocked her head on one side, and indulged in what she doubtless considered most fetching eye-play. “I ain’t a two-legged time-table!”

“Be careful,” advised the Chief. “I want straight answers, not foolishness, from you.”

Jenny sulked. “I’m givin’ it to you as straight’s I can, Mr. Chief. Honest to goodness, I don’t know if Miss Olive was just before the Driggs hen or after her!”

“Also, be more careful of your choice of words. Did Mrs. Driggs go back through your room when she left?”

“Yes, I guess she did,—but,—lemmesee, no, I guess she didn’t either.”

“Isn’t your memory very short?”

“For such trifles, yes, sir. But I can remember lots of things real easy. I’ve got a date now, with——”

“Stop! If you don’t look out, young woman, you’ll be locked up!”

“Behave pretty, now, Jenny girl,” urged her father, who was quite evidently the slave of his resplendent offspring; “don’t be flip; this here’s no place for such-like manners.”

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