"Father sent
them out to our country place Tuesday afternoon; they annoyed our
- our guest, Mrs. Brewster."
"In what way?"
"By barking - 'they are noisy dogs."
"And yet they did not arouse the household when Mr. Turnbull broke
into the house - Coroner Penfield regarded her sternly. "How do
you account for that?"
Barbara's right hand stole to the arm of her chair and clasped it
with the same convulsive strength that she clung to the other chair
arm. When she spoke her voice was barely audible.
"I can account for it in two ways," she began. "If the dogs were
accidentally locked in the cellar they could not possibly hear Mr.
Turnbull moving about the house; if they were roaming about and
scented him, they might not have barked because they would recognize
him as a friend."
"Were the dogs familiar with his step and voice?"
"Yes. Only last Sunday he played with them for an hour, and later
in the afternoon took them for a walk in the country."
"I see." Penfield stroked his chin reflectively. "When your sister
told you of finding the burglar and his arrest, did you not, in the
light of your wager, suspect that he might be Mr.
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