She had a fat, kindly face, and her woolly hair was
partially gray. Uncorseted, her enormous bust stood
forth in vast folds of wabbly fat, and her fat, per-
spiring face shone like a freshly polished stove.
Evidently just from the kitchen, she was neverthe-
less neatly dressed in blue calico, with a large check-
ered apron and a white handkerchief tied round her
head. She appeared to be laboring under great
mental excitement, for directly she caught sight of
Joe she turned to Mr. Finley, who had followed in a
vain attempt to quiet her, and demanded :

"Is dis de man?"

The butler shook his head and pointed to the chief.
"No; this is Mr. Kayton."

82



THE ARGYLE CASE

Not in the least awed, the negress advanced ag«
gressively toward the detective,

"Ah, you ah de genTman as wants to see me?"

Kayton, an amused expression on his face, looked
the new-comer over for a moment and then turned
to Kittv.
