The WINDOW at the WHITE CAT

CHAPTER I

SENTIMENT AND CLUES

In my criminal work anything that wears skirts is a lady, until the lawproves her otherwise. From the frayed and slovenly petticoats of thewoman who owns a poultry stand in the market and who has grown wealthyby selling chickens at twelve ounces to the pound, or the silk sweep ofMamie Tracy, whose diamonds have been stolen down on the avenue, or thestaidly respectable black and middle-aged skirt of the client whosehusband has found an affinity partial to laces and fripperies, and hasrun off with her—all the wearers are ladies, and as such announced byHawes. In fact, he carries it to excess. He speaks of his wash lady,with a husband who is an ash merchant, and he announced one day in someexcitement, that the lady who had just gone out had appropriated all theloose change out of the pocket of his overcoat.

So when Hawes announced a lady, I took my feet off my desk, put down thebrief I had been reading, and rose perfunctorily. With my first glanceat my visitor, however,

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The WINDOW at the WHITE CAT

By MARY ROBERTS RINEHART

TRIANGLE BOOKS NEW YORK

Triangle Books Edition Published September 1940

Reprinted December 1940
Reprinted February 1941

Triangle Books, 14 West Forty-ninth Street,
New York, N. Y.

PRINTED AND BOUND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BY THE AMERICAN BOOK—STRATFORD PRESS, INC., N. Y. C.

CONTENTS