The little procession moved as swiftly and softly as
circumstances would permit--Anderson followed its passage with
watchful eyes. Billy went mechanically to pick up the stained rug
which the detective had kicked aside and carried it off after the
body. When the burden and its bearers, with Anderson in the rear,
reached the doorway into the hall, Lizzie shrank before the sight,
affrighted, and turned toward the alcove while Miss Cornelia stared
unseeingly out toward the front windows. So, for perhaps a dozen
ticks of time Dale was left unwatched--and she made the most of
her opportunity.
Her fingers fumbled at the bosom of her dress--she took out the
precious, dangerous fragment of blue-print that Anderson must not
find in her possession--but where to hide it, before her chance
had passed? Her eyes fell on the bread roll that had fallen from
the detective's supper tray to the floor when Lizzie had seen the
gleaming eye on the stairs and had lain there unnoticed ever since.
She bent over swiftly and secreted the tantalizing scrap of blue
paper in the body of the roll, smoothing the crust back above it
with trembling fingers. Then she replaced the roll where it had
fallen originally and straightened up just as Billy and the
detective returned.
Billy went immediately to the tray, picked it up, and started to go
out again. Then he noticed the roll on the floor, stooped for it,
and replaced it upon the tray. He looked at Miss Cornelia for
instructions.
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