Beyond that a fence, with a gate in it. The gate was unlocked. On a
nail at the edge of the gateway Jack found a fluttering fragment of
gray veiling.

"A woman has left here," thought Jack, holding the fragment of veiling
in his hand. "Or else Millard got away disguised as a woman. That
trunk may have held woman's apparel for the very purposes of such an
escape."

This rear gateway opened upon a long, narrow alley that led to a street
beyond.

Having satisfied himself on this point, Benson stepped back into the
yard.

"Hold on! Here's something that will help," muttered the boy, staring
down curiously at the ground.

It was the imprint of a foot in a wet spot on the ground. As Jack bent
over it he saw the marks of diagonal criss-crossing such as is found
in the soles of rubbers.

"The print is a fresh one. Either Millard wore rubbers away, or some
woman has been here who wore them," Jack concluded.

Dropping his cudgel, since he would have no use for it, Benson made his
way down the alley to the street beyond. At the corner stood a small
grocery store, whose proprietor was in the doorway.

"I wonder," began Jack, "whether you saw a woman came down out of this