"How could any one have got in from the outside?" asked Craig.

"There is a back way, a servants' entrance, but it is usually
locked. Of course some one might have obtained a key to it."

Mrs. Pitts had remained silent throughout the dialogue. I could
not help thinking that she suspected something, perhaps was
concealing something. Yet each of them seemed equally anxious to
have the marauder apprehended, whoever he might be.

"My dear," he said to her at length, "will you call some one and
have them taken to the kitchen?"




IX

THE ELIXIR OF LIFE


As Minna Pitts led us through the large mansion preparatory to
turning us over to a servant she explained hastily that Mr. Pitts
had long been ill and was now taking a new treatment under Dr.
Thompson Lord. No one having answered her bell in the present
state of excitement of the house, she stopped short at the pivoted
door of the kitchen, with a little shudder at the tragedy, and
stood only long enough to relate to us the story as she had heard
it from the valet, Edward.