"For any one who suffers from nerves," she put in, and he flushed at the irony of her tone, "Kitty has plenty of courage. I--" she smiled. "I am inclined to think that Kitty has inherited some of her aunt's prejudices--" "She couldn't inherit any likes--that abominable aunt of hers hated everybody." Wallace spoke with such bitter feeling that Mrs. Parsons restrained a smile with difficulty. "Poor Kitty," her tone was full of sympathy. "I am glad she has Ted Rodgers to lean on." Wallace flushed angrily. "He's the one who has made all the trouble," he began. "If it hadn't been for his--" "What?" as Wallace came to an abrupt halt. "Oh, nothing." Wallace beat the devil's tattoo on the chair arm. "I must be going, Cecelia. It's a beastly bore having to turn in early, but I must obey the doctor's orders." "You certainly should take better care of yourself." Mrs. Parsons walked with Wallace to the door of the room. The house was an English basement in design, and as they came to the top of the flight of steps leading to the ground floor, Wallace held out his hand. It felt feverish to the touch and Mrs. Parsons regarded him with growing concern. "Stop and see Dr. McLean on your way home," she advised. "I'm all right." Wallace laughed recklessly. "Don't worry, I take a lot of killing. Good night." And, squeezing her hand until the pressure forced her rings into the tender skin, he released it and ran down the steps. Mrs. Parsons lingered long enough to hear James assisting Wallace into his overcoat and then went thoughtfully into her drawing room. The footman had left one of the window shades up and Mrs. Parsons paused to pull it down. The street was well lighted from the electric lamp opposite her doorway, and, as she stood idly looking out of the window, she saw Major Leigh Wallace start to cross the street, hesitate at the curb, turn to his left and walk eastward. He had gone but a short distance when Mrs. Parsons saw a man slip out from the doorway of the next house and start down the street after Wallace. Halfway down the block Wallace crossed the street and without glancing backward continued on his way, his shadow at his heels. Mrs. Parsons watched them out of sight, her eyes big with suppressed excitement. When she finally pulled down the window shade her hand was not quite steady. CHAPTER VIII THE CASE OF THE GILA MONSTER Unaware that he had a place in Mrs. Parsons' meditations as well as in her conversation with Major Leigh Wallace, Ted Rogers parked his car near the entrance to "Rose Hill." His ring at the front door bell was answered by Mandy, the ebony shadow of Oscar, her husband. "Kin yo' see Miss Kitty?" She repeated the question after him. "Why, I 'spect yo' kin, Mister Rodgers. Jes' step inside, Sah, an' I'll go find Miss Kitty." Closing the front door and putting up the night latch with much jingling, Mandy led Rodgers down the hall to the entrance of the library.