Be sure you don't
come till I do ring," and Miss Loach emphasized this last
order with a flash of her brilliant eyes.
Susan took the coffee to the sitting-room in the basement and
then cleared the table. Shortly before eight o'clock there
was a ring at the front door. She opened it to a tall lady,
with gray hair, who leaned on an ebony cane. With her were
two men, one a rather rough foolish-looking fellow, and the
other tall, dark, and well-dressed in an evening suit. A
carriage was just driving away from the gate. As the tall
lady entered, a breath of strong perfume saluted Susan's
nostrils. The girl started and peered into the visitor's
face. When she returned to the kitchen her own was as white
as chalk.
CHAPTER II
THE CRIME
The kitchen was rather spacious, and as neat and clean as the
busy hands of Mrs. Pill could make it. An excellent range
polished to excess occupied one end of the room; a dresser
with blue and white china adorned the other. On the outside
wall copper pots and pans, glittering redly in the firelight,
were ranged in a shining row. Opposite this wall, a door led
into the interior of the house, and in it was the outer
entrance. A large deal table stood in the center of the room,
and at this with their chairs drawn up, Geraldine and the cook
worked. The former was trimming a picture-hat of the cheapest
and most flamboyant style, and the latter darned a coarse
white stocking intended for her own use.
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