Kennedy and his two men paused only long enough to make certain Penny was not injured. Then they went on into the house, and Rocks, even in the pressure of that moment, found time to admire their courage. Good boys, those cops were. They knew they might find something inside that house against which their guns would prove useless. But they drew the guns, and went in. "Are you all right?" Rocks whispered. "I--I think so. After I called you, I ran outside to call for help and I slipped and fell down the steps." He picked her up and carried her inside, laid her on a divan. He did not ask about her grandfather. He could hear the detectives on the floor above. They had stopped racing through the house, jerking open doors. They were all gathered in one room and they weren't saying much. Then Kennedy came down the stairs, with one of his men. "Malone," he called softly. "Here," Rocks answered. Kennedy came in. His eyes were black agates in a mask of dough. He slipped his gun back into its holster and said to the man who followed him, "You stay here with the girl. Malone, will you come upstairs with me?" Rocks nodded. The detective led the way upstairs. McCumber lay on the floor. The skin of his face was a blotch of red. His clothing had fallen away into dust. He had been working at his desk. When death struck him he had fallen to the floor. Kennedy took a sheet from the bed and placed it over the still form. Penny, very pale but very resolute, came into the room. "Are you strong enough to tell us what happened?" Kennedy asked gently. "I came in to kiss him goodnight," she answered. "He was lying there on the floor. I started to run to the telephone--then I heard something." She shuddered. "It was--I didn't hear anything. You can't hear silence, I suppose. But I did hear it. My feet didn't make any sound on the floor. I know I screamed, but I couldn't ever hear the sound of my own voice. I ran to call the museum, then I ran outside to call for help." "Did you see anything in the room?" "No. The desk light was burning and most of the room was in shadows, but if anything was here, I didn't see it. But--" she paused. "What is it, miss?" Kennedy inquired gently. "It isn't anything I'm sure of," she answered. "But I think that thing followed us home from the museum. I had the feeling that we were being followed." "Did you see anything following you?" She shook her head. "It was just an impression, a feeling." "You had better go lie down," said Rocks. "We'll take care of everything." He looked at Kennedy. "Can she have a man to be on guard outside her door?"