Page:The Rejuvenation Of Miss Semaphore.pdf/137

 "But did you—did you notice anything wrong in the room just now, any signs of a struggle, or—or poison of any kind, or a weapon?" asked Mrs. Whitley. "I suppose you looked?"

"Frankly," said the medical woman, "I did not; I was so surprised and taken aback when I found she was not there, that I just looked at nothing at all except the bed. That had been slept in apparently, and I think the room was rather untidy, but I did not stay a moment.'

"Don't you think, ladies," said Mrs. Whitley, in a low voice, "that it would be well for Miss Lord and myself to run upstairs now and thoroughly investigate the apartment?"

The others agreed; so the medical lady and her satellite made their way to Miss Semaphore's room, and conscientiously poked into every corner. They found nothing except a twist of Miss Augusta's false hair, and a baby's knitted boot. This last the medical woman picked up and held out.

"Where did this come from, I wonder," said she; "I suppose one of them made it for some charity."

"No doubt," said Mrs. Whitley; and