remind them of their stay, and she and Bassett exchanged a smile. It was still on their lips when a sound came from outside, a single sharp detonation. It fell upon the evening’s tranquil hush, sudden and startling, like something alien and unrelated. [Pg 97] [Pg 97] “What was that?” said Anne. “Sounds like a shot,” Shine thought. “It couldn’t be!” Bassett got up. “Nobody has a pistol here and if he had he couldn’t use it—one of the special stipulations Driscoll made when he lent us the place.” He moved to the land entrance and looked out. “What could it have been?” Anne looked questioningly at Shine, who, having no other suggestion to offer, shrugged and shook his head. The door of Mrs. Cornell’s room opened on the gallery and Miss Pinkney emerged, Mrs. Cornell behind her. “Mr. Bassett,” she cried, a hand on the railing. “Where’s Mr. Bassett?” Bassett drew out from under the gallery and looked up at her: “Did you hear that?” “I did and I told you that Mr. Driscoll never allowed any shooting on the premises.” “Do you think that was a shot?” “Well, what else was it?” [Pg 98] [Pg 98] Mrs. Cornell, leaning comfortably on the railing, suggested that it might be an auto tire. This drew a snort from Miss Pinkney:
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