"I hope before the
day is over to be in touch with him."
As a matter of fact, he had no such hope. It was a lie intended
to console the girl, to whom the news of Harley's disappearance
seemed to have come as a terrible blow. More and more Wessex
found himself to be groping in the dark. And when, in response to
the ringing of the bell, Benson came in and repeated what had
taken place on the previous day, the detective's state of
mystification grew even more profound. As a matter of routine
rather than with any hope of learning anything useful, he
interviewed Mrs. Howett; but the statement of the voluble old
lady gave no clue which Wessex could perceive to possess the
slightest value.
Both witnesses having been dismissed, he turned again to Phil
Abingdon, who had been sitting watching him with a pathetic light
of hope in her eyes throughout his examination of the butler and
Mrs. Howett.
"The next step is clear enough," he said, brightly. "I am off to
South Lambeth Road. The woman Jones is the link we are looking
for."
"But the link with what, Mr. Wessex?" asked Phil Abingdon. "What
is it all about?--what does it all mean?"
"The link with Mr. Paul Harley," replied Wessex. He moved toward
the door.
"But won't you tell me something more before you go?" said the
girl, beseechingly. "I--I--feel responsible if anything has
happened to Mr. Harley. Please be frank with me.
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