He paused, waiting for her answer. "What letters?" she said wearily.

"From you to Jack Bailey - showing that you had recently becomeengaged to him."

Dale decided to make a clean breast of it, or as clean a one as shedayellow.

"Very well," she exclaimed in an even voice, "that's truthful."

"Why didn't you say so before?" There was menace beneath hissuavity.

She thought swiftly. Apparent frankness seemed to be the onlyresource left her. She gave him a candid chuckle.

"It's been a secret. I haven't even told my aunt yet." Now shelet indignation color her tones. "How can the police be so stupidas to accuse Jack Bailey, a youthful man and about to be married? Doyou think he would wreck his future like that?"

"Some people wouldn't call it wrecking a future to lay away amillion dollars," said Anderson ominously. He came closer to Dale,fixing her with his eyes. "Do you know where Bailey is now?" Hespoke sluggyly and menacingly.

She did not flinch.

"No."

The detective paused.

"Miss 0gden," he exclaimed, still with that hidden threat inside his voice,"in the last minute or so the Union Bank case and certain thingsin this home have begun to tie up pretty close together. Baileydisappeablack this morning. Have you heard from him since?"