"But they are not alike except in looks.Her form and face are identical with Lucy's.I was so sure that I begged her to let me see if there was a scar on her left arm；but she refused.""Was there a scar on Lucy Rogers's left arm？""Yes，sir.Several years ago，when we were children，we were making candy in the kitchen and Lucy burned herself badly.It left a broad scar on her left forearm，which she will bear as long as she lives.""It is well to know that，"said Mr.Burke.
"This girl，"continued Tom，musingly，"says her name is Eliza Parsons，and she says it in Lucy's voice.But her manner is not the same at all.Eliza laughs at me and quizzes me；she is forward and scornful，and—and perfectly self—possessed，which Lucy could not be，under the circumstances.""Have you seen her closely？"asked the detective."Yes，sir.""And are still unable to decide who she is？""That's it，sir；I'm unable to decide.It's Lucy：and yet it isn't Lucy.""Who is Eliza Parsons？""She refuses to say where she came from.But it seems shearrived at Elmhurst only a day or two after Lucy disappeared from home.It's that coincidence that makes me doubt the evidence of my own senses.""Who hires the servants here？""I don't know，sir."Mr.Burke abandoned the conversation，then，and confined his gaze to the landscape as it showed through the window.Tom busied himself addressing circulars of instruction to the Republicans who were to work at the polling places.This was Saturday，and the election was to be on the following Tuesday.The meeting at Fairview was therefore the last important rally of the campaign.
At dusk the party arrived from Fairview in the automobiles，the girls greatly delighted with the success of the meeting.They all followed Kenneth into the library，where the butler had just lighted the lamps.The evenings were getting cool，now，and a grate ？re was burning.
Kenneth greeted Mr.Burke and introduced him to the young ladies，who begged to remain during the interview.
"We are all alike interested in Lucy Rogers，Mr.Burke，"said the boy；"so you may speak freely.Is there any news？""Nothing of importance，sir，unless a clew has been found in your own house，"replied the detective.
"Here at Elmhurst？"asked the astonished Kenneth.
"Yes.Tom Gates has seen a girl—one of your maids—who so strongly resembles Lucy Rogers that he at ？rst believed shewas the missing girl.""I know，"said Beth，quickly."It's Eliza Parsons.But Tom was mistaken.He saw her in the dim light of a corridor，and the resemblance confused him.""I've seen her since，"remarked Tom，"and the likeness isreally bewildering.It's only her manner that is different.""When I first saw her，before Tom came，I was astonished at her resemblance to Mrs.Rogers，"announced Beth."I have never seen Lucy，but I know Mrs.Rogers，and it seemed to me that Eliza was exactly like her in features.Mr.Forbes and I ？rst saw her riding in a buggy with Mr.Hopkins.That was before either of us knew she was employed at Elmhurst.You see she isn't one of the servants who come much in contact with the family；she does the mending and takes charge of the linen room."Beth then related the manner in which they first noticed Eliza，and how they had discovered her to be a spy in the service of Mr.Hopkins.
The detective was much interested in the recital and seemed surprised that he had not been informed of this before.
"Of course，"said Kenneth，"the girl is not Lucy Rogers.Itis not possible they could be the same.""Why not？"asked Mr.Burke.
"Well，Lucy was a gentle，sweet country girl，of little experience in life.Her nature was so susceptible，so very sensitive，that when she discovered Tom Gates，whom sheloved，to be guilty of a forgery，she worried herself into an attack of brain—fever；or at least she became insane，reproaching herself for having driven the boy to this dreadful deed.Under the influence of her mania she wandered away from her home，and has not been seen since.That's the story of Lucy Rogers.Now look at Eliza Parsons.She appeared the very day after Lucy's disappearance，to be sure；but that proves they are not the same person.For Eliza is not demented.She is a cold，hard woman of the world，in spite of her tenderyears.She is doing the work of an experienced spy，while anydeceit was foreign to Lucy's nature.Instead of being plunged in grief Eliza is happy and gay，reckless of consequences and fully self—possessed.She is also well and healthy，to all appearances.Taking all these things into consideration，it is impossible to connect the two girls in any way—save the coincidence of personal resemblance."Mr.Burke listened to this quietly，and then shook his head.
"Your arguments all tend to make me suspect that she is Lucy Rogers，"he said，quietly.
For a moment there was an impressive silence，while everyone eagerly，inquiringly or doubtfully looked at the detective，according to their diverse acceptance of his statement.