“Of course it would,” put in Julie Baxter, the telephone girl. “Daisy’s an awful bluffer. None of us girls would kill anybody. But one and all we are glad to be rid of Sir Herbert, though I can’t help being sorry he’s killed.” “You mean you’d have been glad to be rid of him in some more peaceable fashion?” “That’s exactly what I mean. He was insufferable——” “In what way?” “Not only, as Daisy says, because he had free manners, but he was silly, beside. Always saying, ‘Well, little one, how do you like my new necktie?’ or some foolishness like that.” Richard Bates looked uncomfortable. “Need I stay?” he inquired. “You must realize I dislike to hear this talk about my uncle.” “Stay, please,” returned Corson, briefly; “and, young ladies, don’t give us any more of your opinions of Sir Herbert, but tell, if you know, of any circumstance bearing on his death.” Apparently none knew of any such, and the girls looked at each other in silence. “And now, tell me where you were at two A. M., each of you, and then you may be excused.” Every one declared that she had been home and in bed at that hour, except Julie Baxter. She, with a fine show of independence, refused to disclose her whereabouts at that time. “There it is again,” said Corson in despair. “Now, Miss Baxter, I don’t think that your reticence necessarily incriminates you at all, but it leaves room for doubt. Take my word for it, it would be wiser and far better for you to tell frankly where you were, even if it calls for criticism from your mates.” “But I won’t tell,” and Julie looked very stubborn. “You’d rather be arrested and held on suspicion?” “You can’t arrest me without a speck of evidence! Nor you can’t scare me by such threats.” “It isn’t an idle threat, and you can be held for further inquiry, if I say so.” “You won’t say so, and anyway I won’t say where I was last night. But I will say I was up to no harm, and had no hand in the death of Sir Herbert Binney.” “I don’t, as yet, think you did; but let me remark that if you _were_ implicated in the matter you would act and speak just as you do now. You would, of course, asseverate your innocence——” “Of course I should. So, now, Mr Smarty-Cat, what are you going to do about it?” Julie’s eyes snapped with anger that seemed almost vicious, and she tossed her head independently, while the other girls showed little or no sympathy. She was not a favorite with her fellow-workers; they called her stuck-up, and she not only refused to take them into her confidence as to her amusements and entertainments, but she often whetted their curiosity by mysterious hints of grand doings of which she never told them definitely. She lived in herself during her hours on duty, and even in the rest room she was never chummy or chatty like the rest. Wherefore, there were surprised glances and nodding heads in her direction, and Daisy Lee sniffed openly.