Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/216

Rh Brookingdale's—him of Buckingham, you know, who married an American lady, and has the big place above here on the hills."

"Precisely," the girl confirmed confidently. "Thank you, Barrows—very much!" she held out her little hand to the Cornishman's clumsy, delighted grasp. "As Sheriff Barrows says, Inspector," she continued then triumphantly to the Plymouth officer, "mother has been known here for at least ten years. She has often visited Mrs. Brookingdale; and always—even if we are just passing through—she has stopped, as she stopped this time, to see Mrs. Brookingdale for a few hours, at least.

"I shall not ask you to take my word alone that Mr. Preston could not have committed that crime. As mother was to send word to Mr. and Mrs. Brookingdale to let them know that she was in town, they are probably at the inn with her now. So if you will come with Mr. Preston and myself—and in such a way as to do Mr. Preston no further injury," she 192