"That was natural, of course. The safe has not yet been opened?"
"No, we are waiting for a man to come from the safe makers."
"Now, one thing more. After you came back to the house before practicing what did you do?"
"I wrote some letters to girl friends, telling them I could not give a house party."
"I--I, must I tell? I threw myself on the bed yonder for a good cry. It was silly, I know--but--but--"
"Did you hear anything unusual while you were here? Think carefully."
"I have tried to think it out several times. Sometimes I think I heard some sort of a shriek, but I am not at all certain. Then, again, I think I heard the fall of something heavy on the floor. But it may be all fancy."
"Yes." Margaret Langmore gave a long sigh. "Oh, Mr. Adams, can you not do something for me? It is horrible to be suspected in this fashion. I cannot make a move without being watched!"
"It is certainly a cruel situation." The detective paused. "I am sure of one thing, Miss Langmore."
"That you are innocent. Those who think you are guilty are fools, as Mr. Case says."
"Yet more than half the folks around here think that way."
"Let them. We'll set to work to prove their mistake."
"Good!" almost shouted Raymond Case, and his face broke out into a look of relief. "Then you will take the case, Mr. Adams?"
"If you do succeed, I shall be grateful to you all my life," came from Margaret Langmore warmly.
As already intimated, Adam Adams, in his career as an investigator and detective, had solved many difficult criminal problems, yet this somewhat remarkable individual realized that the mystery before him was as difficult of solution as any he had yet encountered.
The most tantalizing thing about the whole affair was its simplicity. Two people had been murdered in their own home in broad daylight. No one had been seen around the place, and even the manner in which the foul deed had been committed was a secret.
A score of possibilities presented themselves to his mind when he left Margaret Langmore and Raymond Case to begin the task he had set before himself--to clear the fair name of the beautiful girl who had placed her faith in him and his ability.
"I'll take a look around the house first," he reasoned. "Then I'll find out a little more about these dead folks and their connections."