That
girl's body may be lying up there in the underbrush at this instant.
Dumped there by the murderer, who turned back after seeing me--I'll
take a look!"
For an hour Gilfillan searched through the underbrush along the
bank. Finally he gave it up and started toward the village. He found
the town in a state of great excitement. Everybody was hurrying
down to the river. Overtaking an old man, he inquired if there was
any news of the missing girl.
"They say she's been drownded," chattered the ancient. "My daughter
says they found her things in a boat, but no sign of her. Did you
ever see the beat? They's been more goin' on in this here town in
the last week than--"
Gilfillan hurried on. He caught Charlie Webster as he was leaving
the warehouse.
"I want to see Miss Crown as soon as possible, Webster," he said.
"Do you suppose she will go up in the air if I mention the fact
that I know she was with Thane yesterday up in that old house? It's
a rather ticklish thing to spring on her if she--"
"It's all right," interrupted Charlie. "I talked with her about
it last night. She had no idea he was coming there. He told her he
saw her from across the pasture and hustled over. She was surprised
almost out of her skin when he popped in on her. She tells me she
ordered him out of the house."
The detective was thoughtful. "I wonder if it has occurred to Miss
Crown that Thane might have mistaken her for some one else at that
distance.
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