They were right as to the paper having been
stolen from the Villa at Toorak.
"You did not see the gentleman who came?" said Kilsip, turning again to
the old hag.
"Not I, cuss you," she retorted, politely. "'E came about 'arf-past one
in the morning, an' you don't expects we can stop up all night, do ye?"
"Half-past one o'clock," repeated Calton, quickly. "The very time. Is
this true?"
"Wish I may die if it ain't," said Mother Guttersnipe, graciously. "My
gran'darter Sal kin tell ye."
"Where is she?" asked Kilsip, sharply.
At this the old woman threw back her head, and howled dismay.
"She's 'ooked it," she wailed, drumming on the ground with her feet.
"Gon' an' left 'er pore old gran' an' joined the Army, cuss 'em,
a-comin' round an' a-spilin' business."
Here the woman on the bed broke out again--
"Since the flowers o' the forest are a' wed awa."
"'Old yer jawr," yelled Mother Guttersnipe, rising, and making a dart
at the bed. "I'll choke the life out ye, s'elp me. D'y want me to
murder ye, singin' 'em funeral things?"
Meanwhile the detective was talking rapidly to Mr. Calton.
"The only person who can prove Mr. Fitzgerald was here between one and
two o'clock," he said, quickly, "is Sal Rawlins, as everyone else seems
to have been drunk or asleep. As she has joined the Salvation Army,
I'll go to the barracks the first thing in the morning and look for
her."
"I hope you'll find her," answered Calton, drawing a long breath.
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