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a point of asking me to swear the staff to secrecy. I could tell even then that it was a terrible blow to his pride. He sounded shaken.”
    Slye said, “May I ask, Mrs. Grimes, what the arrangements were for staff at the quarry house?”
    â€œHe had decided that Jeannie should work as the cook while he was there to do some fishing. Mrs. Huddleson, one of our other maids, was to be there as well, doing cleaning.”
    â€œDid they stay at the property?”
    â€œOh, no. Mrs. Westley—Billy’s mother—does her best to protect the female staff. Billy would come here early in the morning and drive whoever would be helping up to the cottage, then depending on where he or they were needed most, brought them back in the early evening. It’s just a few minutes’ drive, as you know. Billy stayed there overnight—you’ve seen the little house?”
    â€œYes,” the sheriff said.
    â€œThat’s where Billy stayed when Everett was at the quarry. So if Everett needed assistance or wished to leave, his driver was right there. Billy was a favorite of Everett’s—like his mother, he had a way of dealing with Everett that prevented many an upset. And his mother relied on Billy to protect the women.”
    â€œSo, if this Mrs. Huddleson was there, how did the young couple manage to elope?” the sheriff asked.
    â€œEverett went fishing. Mrs. Huddleson asked to be brought back here—she had much to do, and Everett’s habit was to take a basket of sandwiches and a thermos with him early in the morning and stay out all day. Jeannie was completing some work in the kitchen, and Billy said he’d make a second trip. Mrs. Huddleson thought nothing of it. They were careful not to raise any alarms here—took none of their possessions from this house, although Everett said Billy cleared out all his own things from his quarters at the quarry.”
    She hesitated, then added, “Perhaps Mrs. Huddleson knew what was going on and aided them—if true, that wouldn’t surprise me. Billy grew up here and is much doted upon by the older staff, who have all adopted him to one degree or another.”
    Wishy’s brows drew together. “But if the Hudson was still at the quarry, how’d the lovers run off? I mean, not a second automobile missing, is there?”
    â€œBilly wouldn’t have stolen an automobile from us,” she said. “Everett was convinced that a friend must have aided them—drove up to the cottage while Everett was out on the water, fishing.”
    â€œTwo days ago,” Slye said, musing. “Since Mr. Grimes was then left without help, did he drive himself back here?”
    â€œNo. He was in a foul mood and said he didn’t want anyone to disturb him, that he had plenty to eat and would just drive the Hudson down to the village if he needed anything more.” She shook her head. “He was emphatic about being left alone, but I swear to you, I had no idea that he meant to do himself harm.”
    â€œPlease don’t let that trouble you,” Slye said. “You had no way to predict what would happen at the quarry.”
    â€œYesterday,” the sheriff asked, “who from this household went there?”
    â€œMrs. Westley. He asked for her specifically, but it would probably have been her anyway—I’m the only other person in the house who drives. She drives as well as Billy, so she took the Ford—we have a Model T that she uses for errands.
    â€œEverett was so upset when I spoke to him, and behaving so oddly, I told her to take Mrs. Huddleson with her, even though that left us very shorthanded here. I asked them to work together and to try not to be out of each other’s sight. Everett wanted to have someone clean the place thoroughly, and the small house, too. They spent most of the day there. It was rather cruel of him, I think, to take his frustrations out on Mrs. Westley.