"Do you think I want to wake up in the morning with my throat cut ?" Then the creaking of the stairs, and Dale's soothing voice reassuring her as she painfully clambered toward the third floor, announced that Lizzie, for some time at least, had been removed as an active factor from the puzzling equation of Cedarcrest.
Anderson confronted Miss Cornelia with certain relief.
"There are certain things I want to discuss with you, Miss Van Gorder," he said.

"But they can wait until tomorrow morning." Miss Cornelia glanced about the room.

His manner was reassuring.
"Do you think all this--pure imagination ?" she said.
"Don't you ?" She hesitated.

"I'm not sure." He laughed.

"I'll tell you what I'll do.