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“And you did this last evening?” Babcock asked hopefully.

“Yes—all during the arrival of the guests and off and on afterward.”

“You saw anything of interest?”

“It all interested me,” said Miss Goodwin, who seemed to be a pathetic creature, “because I have little excitement in my own life. I watched the guests arrive, because I caught many a glimpse of the beautiful or funny costumes, and it gave me a glimpse of gay life.”

“And later,” Babcock did not wish to hurry her unduly, but he did want to know if she had seen anything of any importance.

“Well, later, I should say about ten-thirty, I saw Mr. Locke come out and come down the steps.”

“You know him?”

“By sight, oh, yes. I do not know him to speak to. Well, he went over west, toward Fifth Avenue, and he got on to a Fifth Avenue bus.”

“You’re sure of this?”

“Positive.”

“Inside, or on top?”

“He went up on top. I saw him ascend the stairway as the bus moved on.”

“Thank you. Miss Goodwin, this may be helpful. Now did you see anything after that?”

“Yes, very soon after I saw a lady come out and go away all alone. I thought it strange she had no escort and I watched her.”

“Did she get on a bus?”

“No; she went in the other direction—over east. I lost sight of her at once.”

“Can you describe her at all?”

“Only that she was not very tall—a little plump—no,