CHAPTER III
Alive at Midnight
An hour after the close of the day's session, Mrs.
Parlin was in her sitting room, with the door
closed and the shades lowered. On the opposite side
of the small light-stand sat a rather undersized man,
plainly dressed, and of somewhat insignificant aspect.
Distinctly, the woman in her was disappointed.
"I have sent for you, Mr. Trafford," she said, slowly and apparently reluctantly, "because both my husband and Theodore—Mr. Wing—had the utmost confidence in your ability. I want you to find Mr. Wing's murderer. It's not a matter of cost—I simply want him found."
As she spoke, she gathered confidence, and the tone of her final words almost evidenced a belief that he could do what she asked. She stopped speaking, and the insignificance of the man's appearance was again more real to her and sent a chill over her earnestness.
