Finally he said conclusively: "I would go on oath, Linda, that
he was not. We were all together in the living room, all
together in the dining room. We left together at night and John
was with us."
"I see," said Linda. "Well, then, when you came back the next
morning after Eileen, before you started on your trip, to hunt a
location, was he with you all the time?"
Again Peter took his time to answer.
"We came to your house with Gilman," he said. "John started to
the front door to tell Miss Eileen that we were ready. I
followed him. Anderson said he would look at the scenery. He
must have made a circuit of the house, because when we came out
ready to start, a very few minutes later, he was coming down the
other side of the house."
"Ah," said Linda comprehendingly.
"Linda," said Peter quietly, "it is very obvious that something
has worried you extremely. Am I in any way connected with it?"
Linda shook her head.
"Is there anything I can do?"
The negative was repeated. Then she looked at him.
"No, Peter," she said quietly, "I confess I have had a shock, but
it is in no way connected with you and there is nothing you can
do about it but forget my foolishness. But I am glad--Peter, you
will never know how glad I am--that you haven't anything to do
with it."
Then in the friendliest fashion imaginable she reached him her
hand and led the way back to the Bear Cat, their tightly gripped
hands swinging between them.
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