Page:The Strange Case of Miss Annie Spragg (1928).djvu/302

 never seen a bathroom. Was it true that the Principessa was an American lady?

And then quite suddenly Margharita said, "Signora Wetterbee went away three days ago but Signorina Fosdeek returned this morning."

"Where?" cried Mr. Winnery. "Where is she?"

Margharita said she did not know it was Signorina Fosdeek he wanted to see. She thought it was Signora Wetterbee. She even (and here she became arch) thought that perhaps there was a romance with Signora Wetterbee. Signorina Fosdeek had arrived on foot carrying her bag.

"On foot?" exclaimed Mr. Winnery. "In this heat?"

"Si, si. And she ran away on foot."

"Ran away?" repeated Mr. Winnery.

"She ran away. Signora Wetterbee did not know she was going."

A great light burst on Mr. Winnery. He wasted no more time talking with Margharita. Leaving her astonished in the midst of a long recital, he went to the villa and this time without knocking he pushed open the door. There was a rustle of dried leaves in the hallway and a rat scurried off into the shadows. He did not like rats. The sight of them made his hair rise up on end. But he pushed bravely on, calling out, "Miss Fosdick! Miss Fosdick!" again and again. But there was no answer. The name simply echoed through the empty house. Perhaps, he thought wildly, she has killed herself and I shall find the body. He went from room to room. All were closed and the only light filtered in dimly from the cracks in the shutters. The big