Is it,
Mil--Miss Case?"
Now, I don't know why Mildred should have blushed. There was nothing that
I could see in this young man's question to embarrass her.
Preoccupied, still confused by the shock of this terrible news, I looked
at Jones and at Mildred; and they were staring rather oddly at each
other.
I said: "If this affair turns out to be as ghastly as it seems to
promise, we'll have to call in a detective. I'll go back immediately--"
"Why not take me, also?" asked Mildred Case, quietly.
"What?" I asked, looking at her.
"Why not, Mr. Smith? I was once a private detective."
Surprised at the suggestion, I hesitated.
"If you desire to keep this matter secret--if you wish to have it first
investigated privately and quietly--would it not be a good idea to let me
use my professional knowledge before you call in the police? Because as
soon as the police are summoned all hope of avoiding publicity is at an
end."
She spoke so sensibly, so quietly, so modestly, that her offer of
assistance deeply impressed me.
As for young Jones, he looked at her steadily in that odd, chilling
manner, which finally annoyed me.
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