The moment she saw Craig, however, she stopped short with a look
of great surprise. Kennedy, on his part, who was seated at the
desk still tracing out the similarities of the letters, stood up,
half hesitating what to say. He bowed and she returned his
salutation with a very cool nod.
Her keen eye had not missed the fact that several of her letters
lay scattered over the top of the desk.
"What are you doing with my letters, Mr. Kennedy?" she asked, in
an astonished tone, evidently resenting the unceremoniousness with
which he had apparently been overhauling her correspondence.
As guardedly as possible, Kennedy met her inquiry, which I could
not myself blame her for making.
"I beg pardon, Miss Dodge," he said, "but a matter has just come
up which necessitated merely a cursory examination of some purely
formal letters which might have an important bearing on the
discovery of the Clutching Hand. Your Aunt had no idea where you
were, nor of when you might return, and the absolute necessity for
haste in such an important matter is my only excuse for examining
a few minor letters without first obtaining your permission."
She said nothing. At another time, such an explanation would have
been instantly accepted. Now, however, it was different.
Kennedy read the look on her face, and an instant later turned to
Aunt Josephine and myself.
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