But I remember--" "What, Mrs.Rodaine ?" "The day Sissie Larsen was supposed to leave town--that was the day he got killed." "Do you remember the date ?" "No--I don't remember that." "Would it be in your book ?" She seemed to become suddenly excited.

She half rose in her chair and looked down the line of benches to where her husband sat, the scar showing plainly in the rather brilliant light, his eyes narrowed until they were nearly closed.

Again the question, and again a moment of nervousness before she answered: "No--no--it would n't be in my book.

I looked." "But you remember ?" "Just like as if it was yesterday." "And what you saw--did it give you any idea--" "I know what I saw." "And did it lead to any conclusion ?" "Yes." "What, may I ask ?" "That somebody had been murdered!" "Who--and by whom ?" Crazy Laura munched at her toothless gums for a moment and looked again toward her husband.

Then, her watery, almost colorless eyes searching, she began a survey of the big room, looking intently from one figure to another.