Read The House without the Door for Free Online

and Miss Lukes only take desirables, and the patients live in clover. None of those people would know you, Mrs. Gregson, and I dare say none of them ever heard of you."
    "It sounds very nice."
    "You needn't appear downstairs at all unless you feel like it. You can take walks—lovely scenery, even at this time of the year. I could call up tonight—they probably have room for you so late in the season—and drive you up there tomorrow myself."
    "You take my breath away." She gave him the faint, difficult smile.
    "Send Mrs. Stoner up to Burford in your car. I wouldn't rush things, you know, if I didn't think there was a rush."
    After a pause she said: "You're very kind; I'll go."
    "Good. I'll make all arrangements. This is one place," and he grinned at Colby, "where my reference gets you in. Could you be ready at half-past nine, say?"
    "I must go to the bank first."
    "I'll come here and wait for you. And now I want the addresses of those young people, and I want to know how to get to Pine Lots."
    "It's the second road to the left beyond Burford. I'll give you the number of Benny's rooming-house, and the telephone. Celia lives with a Mrs. Smiles." She went over to the desk in the corner, and sat down at it. While she wrote Gamadge and Colby stood waiting with their overcoats on and their hats in their hands. She turned, with a slip of paper in her fingers; Gamadge went over to her. Looking down into her eyes, he felt as if he were looking at the windows of a deserted house.
    "Mrs. Gregson," he said, "I know why you never ran away from all this."
    "Do you?"
    "Yes." He took the paper and folded it. "I know why you have brought yourself to tell me this story; I know why you're willing to pursue this investigation, although it may mean raking up the past; may even mean publicity for you, and the end of your privacy."
    "I wondered if you would guess."
    "I have guessed. You think that Gregson's murderer is at work again."
    Colby exclaimed. Mrs. Gregson kept her eyes on Gamadge's. He went on: "You hope I'll find evidence that his murderer, having failed to get you killed by due process of law, has been using methods more direct. Your husband's money is the motive now, as it was then."
    Colby advanced. He said fiercely: "I never saw it. You'll get proof of this, Gamadge." And as Gamadge doubtfully shook his head, exclaimed: "You're not giving up before you begin?"
    "I must warn Mrs. Gregson not to bank on my finding proof of it. I know that the hope means more to her than life itself, and I implore her not to risk her all on it. For a man or woman who sacrifices everything to a fixed idea is risking too much. What shall you do if I fail you?"
    "I must face that." She sat rigid.
    "You've brooded on it too long. Take your money, leave this place and the house at Burford, cut loose from Mrs. Stoner and from the others, give up the quest. Make yourself a life; stay in cheerful hotels, meet people, teach yourself not to care whether they recognize you or not. Get away from your dependents, and there will be no more letters, and no more stories of attempts against you. Believe me, it will be worth it!"
    She had listened to his urgent voice attentively. But she in turn shook her head. "You can't conceive what it means to me. I must go on with it."
    "Then I'm off." Gamadge suddenly regained his natural ease of manner. "See you in the morning, and be sure to bundle Mrs. Stoner out of town before we start for Cold Brook. She's not to know where you're going; nobody's to know."
    She stood up, grasping the back of her chair with a firm hand. "I won't tell. Thank you both. Thank you, Mr. Colby, for bringing him—I know he'll find out something."
    "He'll do the trick. Look at him—the man's on the hunt already!" For Gamadge was half-way to the door. Colby followed him.
    As they reached the stairs they met Mrs. Stoner, slowly climbing. She wore the crushed grey hat that she had carried under her arm at their first meeting, and the