murder at bridge-anne austin

8/12/2019 Murder at Bridge-Anne Austin

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Title: Murder at Bridge

Author: Anne Austin

Release Date: September 28, 2006 [eBoo !"#$0%&

'anguage: (nglish

)hara*ter set en*oding: +S-88.#-"

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Author o< CMurder Ba*stairsC

4rosset Dunlap ublishers e? EorSet up and ele*trot9ped ublished ebruar9, "#%" Reprinted

Mar*h,April, "#%"F ebruar9, "#%2rinted in the 5nited States o< Ameri*a

or AR'+( AD 1541 1(RB(RT

[+llustration: 4round-<loor plan o< ita SelimGs house in rimroseMeado?s, sho?ing the bedroom in ?hi*h the murder ?as*ommitted&



)1AT(R (

Bonnie Dundee stret*hed out a long and rather <ine pair o< legs,regarding the pattern o< his dar-blue so*s ?ith distin*tsatis<a*tionFthen he rested his bla* head against the ri*h upholster9 o< anarm*hairnot at all intended <or his use

1is *heer<ul blue e9es turned at last--but not too long a last--tothesmall, upright <igure seated at a t9pe?riter des in the *orner o<theo<<i*e

C4ood morning, enn9,C he *alled out lail9, and good-humoredl9?aited

<or the storm to brea

CMiss )rain--to H9ouHIC The <l9ing <ingers did not stop an instant,butDundee noti*ed ?ith glee that the slim ba* sti<<ened een morerigidl9and that there ?as a de*ided toss o< the bro?n bobbed head

CBut enn9 is so mu*h more lie 9ou,C Dundee protested,

unru<<led CAnd?h9 should + be <or*ed al?a9s to thin o< 9ou as a long-leggedbird,?hen een our mutual boss, Distri*t Attorne9 Jilliam SSanderson, has



the priilege o< *alling 9ou ?hat 9ou are--a bright and shiningne?penn9KC

C+Ge no?n Bill Sanderson sin*e + ?as born,C the unseen lipsin<ormedhim tru*ulentl9, een as the unseen <ingers *ontinued their<ier*el9sta**ato t9ping

CAhI That eplains a lotIC Dundee *on*eded handsomel9 C+ ;ust?ondered,amidst all this bonhommie o< GBillG and Genn9,G ?h9 +--C

C+ onl9 *all Mr Sanderson GBillG ?hen + <orgetIC the small *reaturede<ended hersel< sharpl9 C4oodness no?s + Htr9H to be ane<<i*ientpriate se*retar9I And + *ould be a lot more e<<i*ient i< la9strangersdidnGt plump themseles do?n in our best isitorsG *hair, and tr9to<lirt ?ith me + donGt <lirtI Do 9ou hearK--H+ donGt <lirt ?ith

an9bod9IHC

Clirt ?ith 9ou, 9ou <unn9 little enn9KC DundeeGs oi*e ?as a littlesad, the oi*e o< a man ?ho <inds himsel< grieousl9misunderstood C+onl9 ?ant 9ou to lie me, i< 9ou *an, and be a little ni*e to me,<ora<ter all +--C

Ch, + no?IC enn9 )rain ;ered the <inished letter <rom hert9pe?riterand spun about on her narro?-ba*ed s?iel *hair to <a*e him C+no?9ou are GMr 3ames Dundee, Spe*ial +nestigator atta*hed tothe



o<<i*e o< the Distri*t Attorne9,G and that 9ou hae a right to drieme*ra9 i< 9ou ?ant toC

CH)ra9KHC Dundee ?as genuinel9 amaed, *ontrite C+ beg 9ourpardonmost humbl9, Miss )rain +Gll go ba* to m9 *ell--C

CEour o<<i*e is almost as big and ni*e as this one,C enn9 retorted,buther sharp, bright bro?n e9es--reall9 almost the *olor o< a ne?penn9--so<tened until the9 too on a elet9 depth

Dundee did not <ail to noti*e the so<tening, nor did the littleheart-shaped <a*e, ?ith its lo? ?ido?Gs-pea, its straight, shortnose,and its pointed little *hin, made almost *hildish b9 the deep *le<t?hi*h *ut through its obious e<<ort to loo mature anddetermined, <ailto please him an9 more a*utel9 than on the other da9s o< the oneshort?ee he had been priileged at interals to gae upon it

CBut the <iles, and--other things--are in this o<<i*e,C he told her,hisblue e9es t?inling happil9 on*e more

CDonGt 9ou HdareH tou*h m9 <iles againIC enn9 *ried, springing toher<eet and running to?ard the ?all ?hi*h ?as *ompletel9 *on*ealedb9

dra?ers, *abinets and sheles, <illed ?ith the re*ords o< ?hi*h she?asthe proud *ustodian CThatGs ?h9 + said ;ust no? that 9ou ?eredriingme *ra9 Thursda9 9ou too a ?hole <older o< *orresponden*eout o< the



letter <iles and put it ba* under the ?rong initial + had to hunt<orit <or t?o hours, ?ith Bill--+ mean, Mr Sanderson--gna?ing hisnails

?ith impatien*e 1e thought + had <iled it ?rong, and 9ou mighthaemade me lose m9 ;obC

5n*ons*iousl9 her slightl9 hus9 *ontralto oi*e had sun lo?erandtrembled audibl9

C+Gm a?<ull9 sorr9 + shanGt tou*h 9our <iles again, Miss )rainC

Ch--go on and *all me enn9,C she *on*eded impatientl9 CJhatdo 9ou?ant no?K And 9ou *an get an9thing 9ou need out o< the <iles i< 9ouGll ;ust put the <older in the bottom dra?er o< m9 des, so that+*an <ile it m9sel<--*orre*tl9IC

CThan 9ou, enn9,C Bonnie Dundee said grael9 C+Gd lie a?<ull9

tohae the *omplete trans*ript o< GThe State ersus Magint9G MrSanderson is determined to get a *oni*tion ?here our <ormerdistri*tattorne9 most ingloriousl9 <ailed The ne? trial *omes up in t?o?ees,and he ?ants me to tr9 to un*oer a missing lin o< eiden*eC

C+ no?,C she nodded, and stret*hed her short, slender bod9 to

pull do?nthe t?o hea9 olumes he reLuired

Jithout a b9-9our-leae, Spe*ial +nestigator Dundee resumedhis



*om<ortable seat, and laid the <irst o< the olumes open upon hisneesBut he did not seem to tae a great deal o< interest in theimpanelling

o< ;urors in the *ase o< one Ru<us Magint9, ?ho had ?on thetemporar9triumph o< a Chung ;ur9C under the handling o< the stateGs *ase b9Distri*t Attorne9 Sher?ood, deposed in oemberGs ele*tion

Rather, his e9es <ollo?ed the small, bris <igure o< Miss enelope)rain, as it moed about the room, and his ears listened to thesomeho?*harming though emphati* tapping o< her ren*h heels ren*h

heelsI1adnGt she been ?earing sensible, )uban-heeled <ords all otherda9s o< this <irst ?ee o< his Catta*hmentC to the distri*t attorne9Gso<<i*eK )unning little thing, <or all her thorniness and hersharpness ?ith him, ?hi*h he no? sa? that he had deseredrett9,too Damned prett9I Jhat *olor ?as that dress o< hersK5mmm,

letGs see )hartreuse, didnGt the9 *all itK )hartreuse ?ith bigbro?ndots in it Bet it ?as sleeeless under that short little ;a*et o< golden-bro?n *hi<<on elet B9 3oe--and Dundee lapsed intoone o< the (nglishisms he had pi*ed up during his si monthsG ?or in(nglandas a t9ro in the re*ords department o< S*otland Eard, be<ore hehad *ome

to 1amilton to mae a humble beginning as a *ub dete*tie onthe1omi*ide SLuad--9es, b9 3oe, she ?as all dressed up, <or somereason orother



C< *ourseI Be*ause itGs Saturda9 and 9ou hae the a<ternoono<<ICDundee <inished his reerie aloud, to the astonishment o< thesmall

person tr9ing to rea*h a <ile dra?er ;ust a little too high <or her C+mean,C he hastened to eplain, Cthat +Ge ;ust noti*ed ho?beauti<ul9our *ostume is, and <ound a reason <or itC

There ?as sudden *olor in the *ream9 <a*e The ren*h heelstapped anangr9 progress a*ross the big o<<i*e, and enn9 sat do?n abruptl9in her

s?iel *hair, rea*hed a*ross the imma*ulate des, snat*hed up amorningpaper and tossed it, ?ithout a glan*e, in the general dire*tion o<hertormentor

Cage three, *olumn t?o, <irst item,C she in<ormed himungra*iousl9, andthen began to sear*h ?ith a <unn9 sort o< desperation <or more

?or to*onsume her etraordinar9 energ9

Bonnie Dundee grinned indulgentl9 as he opened HThe 1amiltonMorninge?sH and turned to the spe*i<ied page and *olumn

CAhI M9 old <riend, the Gso*iet9 editress,G in her er9 best st9le,Che

*ommented as he began to read aloud:

CGMrs 3uanita Selim, ne? and *harming member, is entertainingtheors9te Alumnae Bridge )lub this a<ternoon, lun*heon to besered at the



e*lusie ne? Breaa?a9 +nn on Sheridan Road--GC

C+Ge read it--and +Gm bus9, so shut upIC enn9 *ommanded, asshe

gathered up pen*ils to sharpen

uite meel9, Bonnie Dundee subsided into silent perusal o< anitem he?as sure *ould hae no possible interest <or himsel<, in either apersonal or pro<essional *apa*it9, unless enn9Gs name ?as in itsome?here:

C--a<ter ?hi*h the ;oll9 part9 o< 9oung matrons and maids ?ill

ad;ournto Mrs SelimGs delight<ul home in the rimrose Meado?sAdditionC 1e*hu*led, and dared to interrupt the high importan*e o< pointing-uppen*ils C+ sa9, thatGs <unn9, isnGt itK Grimrose Meado?sAdditionGIC

C+ donGt thin itGs <unn9,C enn9 retorted *oldl9 C+t so happens

thatm9 mother named it, that m9 <ather ?ent into banrupt*9 tr9ingto mae ago o< it, and that GMrs SelimGs delight<ul homeG ?as built to beourhome, and in ?hi*h ?e ?ere <ortunate enough to lie onl9 t?omonthsbe<ore the *rash *ameC

ChIC Dundee groaned Cenn9, enn9I +Gm dread<ull9 sorr9C

CShut upIC she ordered, but her oi*e ?as husier than eer ?ithtears



DundeeGs no? thoroughl9 interested e9es ra*ed do?n theabsurdl9 ?rittenparagraphs:

CAlthough not an alumna o< that <amous and sele*t s*hool <orgirls,ors9te-on-the-1udson, graduation <rom ?hi*h pla*es an91amilton girl inthe er9 inner *ir*le o< 1amilton so*iet9, Mrs Selim has been*losel9identi<ied ?ith the s*hool, haing <or the past t?o 9ears dire*tedandstaged ors9teGs annual pla9 ?hi*h ushers in the (aster a*ation

C+ndeed it ?as Mrs SelimGs remarable su**ess ?ith this 9earGspla9?hi*h *aused Mrs eter Dunlap, long interested in a 'ittleTheater <or1amilton, to indu*e the beauti<ul and *harming 9oung dire*tressto *ometo 1amilton ?ith her lans <or the 'ittle Theater are gro?ingapa*e,

and it is sa<e to *on;e*ture that not all the *onersation <l9ingthi*and <ast about GitaGsG bridge tables this a<ternoon ?ill be*on*erned?ith *ontra*t G*onentions,G s*ores, and <inesses ?hi*h <ailed

C'oel9 GitaG ?as ele*ted to membership a <ortnight ago, ?hen aa*an*9o**urred, due to the resignation o< Miss Ali*e 1umphre9, ?ho has

goneabroad <or a 9earGs stud9 in the Sorbonne The t?o-table *lubno?in*ludes: Mesdames 1ugo Marshall, Tra*e9 A Miles, eter Dunlap,3ohn )Drae, 3uanita Selim, and Misses oll9 Beale, 3anet Ra9mond, and



enelope )rainC

Dundee lo?ered the paper and stared at the pro<ile o< Distri*tAttorne9

SandersonGs priate se*retar9 So she ?as a Cso*iet9 girl,C aCors9teCgirlI Jas that the reason, perhaps, ?h9 she had been so thorn9?ith him,a mere Cdi*CK Jell, he ?asnGt ;ust a di* an9 longer 1e ?as aSpe*ial+nestigator A so*iet9 girl, pla9ing at ?or

But there ?as more, and he read on: CAs is ?ell no?n, the GgirlsG

haetheir Ghen-<ightG bridge-lun*heon eer9 Saturda9 a<ternoon <romthe<irst o< *tober to the <irst o< 3une, and a bridge-dinner, in ?hi*hmere men are gra*iousl9 in*luded, eer9 other Jednesda9eening duringthe season Mr and Mrs Tra*e9 A Miles are s*heduled as netJednesda9Gs host and hostessC

C+ tae o<< m9 hat to 9our Gso*iet9 editressG,C Dundee *ommented?ith<alse *heer<ulness, ?hen he had laid the paper ba* upon enn9GsdesCShe maes hal< a *olumn o< this one item in ?hat must be ameagerSaturda9 bun*h o< GSo*iet9 otes,G then ?rites it all oer again, inthepast tense, <or an eLuall9 meager Monda9 *olumn 'ie bridge,

Miss)rainKC

enn9 snat*hed up the paper and *rushed it into her?astebaset C+ doI



And + lie m9 old <riends, een i< + am not able, <inan*iall9, toeepup ?ith them +< thatGs ?h9 9ouGe suddenl9 de*ided to stopbeing--*omrades--C

Clease <orgie me again, enn9,C he begged gentl9

C+ ?as born into that *ro?d, and + still belong to it, be*ause all o< them are m9 real <riends, but get this into 9our thi* S*ot*h-+rishhead, Mr Dundee--+Gm ?oring be*ause + hae to, and--andbe*ause + loeit, too, and be*ause + ?ant to earn enough be<ore +Gm man9 9earsolder

to gie Mother some o< the things sheGs missing so dread<ull9sin*e--sin*e m9 <ather <ailed and--and ran a?a9C

CRan a?a9KC Dundee e*hoed in*redulousl9 1o? *ould an9 mandesert adaughter lie thisI

CEesI Ran a?a9IC she repeated <ier*el9 C+ might as ?ell tell 9oum9sel< lent9 o< others ?ill be ?illing to, as soon as the9 no?

9ouare--m9 <riend As + told 9ou, m9 <atherC--her oi*e broe--Cm9<ather ?ent banrupt, but be<ore the *ourts ne? it he had sentsomese*urities to a--to a H?omanH in e? Eor, and ?hen he--le<t us,he ?entto her, be*ause he le<t Mother a note sa9ing so 1is de<rauded*reditorshere hae tried to--to *at*h him, but the9 haenGt--9et--C

Ner9 gentl9 Bonnie Dundee too the small hand that ?asdistra*tedl9rumpling the bro?n ?aes ?hi*h s?ept ba* <rom the ?ido?Gs-pea +t la9



<luttering in his bigger palm <or a moment, then snat*hed itsel<a?a9

C+ ?onGt hae 9ou <eeling sorr9 <or meIC she *ried angril9

CJho o?ns 9our--the rimrose Meado?s house no?K--MrsSelimKC he ased

CThe Gloel9 itaGKC 1er oi*e ?as s*orn<ul Co She rents it <rom3udge 1ugo Marshall--or is supposed to pa9 him rent,C she added?ith atra*e o< mali*e C1ugo is an old darling, but he is <ear<ull9 ?ea?here

prett9 ?omen are *on*erned ita Selim had no?n 1ugo in e?Eor--someho?--and as soon as 'ois--Mrs Dunlap, + mean--hadgot itao<< the train, the stranger in our midst hied hersel< to 1ugoGso<<i*eand heGs been tagging a<ter her eer sin*e Though most o< themen inour *ro?d are as bad as or ?orse than poor old 1ugo 1o? 7areneeps on

looing so bliss<ull9 happ9--C

C7arenKC Dundee interrupted

CMrs 1ugo Marshall,C she eplained impatientl9 C7aren lummermade herdebut a 9ear ago this last ?inter--a darling o< a girl 3udgeMarshall--retired ;udge, 9ou no?--had been proposing to theprettiest

girl in ea*h seasonGs *rop o< debs <or the last t?ent9 9ears, and1ugomust hae been the most nonplussed Gperennial ba*helorG ?hoeer led agrand mar*h ?hen 7aren snapped him up 'oed him--a*tuall9IAnd it



seems to hae ?ored out marelousl9 A bab9 bo9 threemonths old,Cshe *on*luded in her la*oni* st9le Then, ashamedF C+ donGt no??h9 +Gm

gossiping lie thisIC

CBe*ause 9ou *anGt <ind another blessed s*rap o< ?or to do, 9oulittlee<<i*ien*9 <iend,C Dundee laughed, C)ome onI 4ossip some moreM9Magint9 *ase ?ill ?ait till a<ternoon, to be mulled oer ?hile9ouGrelosing 9our hard-earned salar9 at bridge ?ith ri*h ?omenC

CJe donGt pla9 <or high staes,C she *orre*ted him C3ust at?entieth o< a *ent a point, though *ontra*t *an run into mone9 een at thatThe?innings all go to the ors9te S*holarship und n Jednesda9eeningsthe *ro?d pla9s <or higher staes--a tenth--and ?inners eepersThere<ore + *anGt a<<ord to go, unless + sin so lo? as to let m9

es*ortpa9 m9 losses--?hi*h + sometimes do,C she *on<essed, her bro?nhead lo?<or a moment

C+s this Mrs eter Dunlap a deep-bosomed *lub ?oman, ?hostartsMoementsKC he ased, more to bring her out o< her depressionthan

an9thing else CBigger and Better Babies Moements, and 1omes<or allen4irls, and 'ittle Theater MoementsKC

The bro?n head <lung itsel< up sharpl9, and the bro?n e9eshardened into



bright pennies again C'ois Dunlap is the s?eetest, <inest, most H*om<ortableH ?oman in 1amilton, and + adore her--as doeseer9one else,eter Dunlap hardl9 more than the rest o< us She HisH interested

in a'ittle Theater <or 1amilton, but she ?onGt manage it ThatGs ?h9she gothold o< ita Selim 'ois ?ill simpl9 put up barrels o< mone9,?ithoutmissing them, and gie a grand ;ob to a little Broad?a9 gold-diggerunn9 thing is, she reall9 delights in ita Thins sheGs s?eet andhas

neer had a real *han*eC

CAnd ?hat do 9ou thinKC Dundee ased so<tl9

Ch--+ suppose +Gm a *at, but + *an see through her so *learl9ot thatsheGs badF sheGs simpl9 an opportunist SheGs a?<ull9 s?eet andde<erential and G<ranG ?ith ?omen, but ?ith men--?ell, shesimpl9 tu*s

her head so that her shoulder-length bla* *urls <all <or?arden*hantingl9, gies them one ?ist<ul smile out o< her big e9esthat arelie bla* pansies and--the *lin o< slae *hainsI o? go on andthin +Gm *att9, ?hi*h + suppose + amIC

Bonnie Dundee grinned at her reassuringl9 ot <or him to eplainthatpra*ti*all9 all ?omen and man9 men <ound themseles

CgossipingC ?hen heled them on adroitl9, <or reasons o< his o?n Jhi*h o< *oursehelpedmae him the e*ellent dete*tie he ?as



CSo all the men in 9our *ro?d hae <allen <or ita Selim, haethe9KC

Cra*ti*all9 all, in ar9ing degrees, e*ept eter Dunlap, ?ho has

neerlooed at another ?oman sin*e he ?as lu*9 enough to get 'ois,and )lie1ammond, ?hoGs engaged to oll9 Beale,C enn9 ans?eredrelu*tantl9, her*olor high

C+n*luding H9ourH 9oung manKC

C+ haenGt a G9oung man,G in the sense o< being engaged,C enn9retorted, then added honestl9: C+ HhaeH been letting Ralph1ammond--thatGs )lieGs brother, 9ou no?--tae me about agooddeal Ralph and )lie hae plent9 o< mone9,C she de<endedhersel< hastil9 CThe9 are ar*hite*ts, )lie being the head o< the <irm andRalph, ?ho hasnGt been out o< *ollege so er9 long, a ;uniorpartner

+t ?as the 1ammond <irm that dre? up the plans <or DadGs--+mean, m9<atherGs--rimrose Meado?s Addition houses 1e had our housebuilt as asort o< sho?-pla*e, 9ou no?, so that prospe*tie builders outthere*ould see ho? artisti* a home *ould be put up <or a moderatesum o< mone9 But he didnGt Luite <inish een that--le<t hal< the gabled

topstor9 un<inished, and ita has been teasing 1ugo to <inish it up<orher +t loos,C she added ?ith a shrug, Cas i< ita ?ill get ?hatshe?ants--as usualC



CAnd Ralph has a*Luired a set o< slae *hainsKC Dundeesuggested, ?ith ;ust the slightest note o< s9mpath9

CHAnd ho?IHC enn9 assured him, griml9 CA simile as out-o<-dateas m9*lothes are going to be i< + donGt get some ne? ones soon otthat the*ro?d minds ?hat + ?ear,C she added lo9all9 C+ *ould dress up ina?indo? drape--C

CAnd be ;ust as *harming as 9ou are in that grand ne? part9dress 9ouhae on no?,C Dundee <inished <or her gallantl9

CHe?IHC enn9 snorted and turned ba* to her des in a <utilee<<ort to<ind something le<t undone

Dundee ignored the rebu<< C1o? man9 su*ers--+ mean, ho?

man9 gentlemen?ith moderate in*omes a*tuall9 built in rimrose Meado?sKC

CEou are inLuisitie, arenGt 9ouK oneI ur house, or rather theoneita Selim is liing in no?, is the onl9 house on ?hat used to be abig<arm Jh9KC

C+ ?as ;ust ?ondering,C Dundee said so<tl9, almost absent-mindedl9,C?h9 the Gloel9 itaG *hose so isolated a pla*e in ?hi*h to lie,?hen 1amilton has rather a large number o< Gor RentG signs out ;ust



no? B9 the ?a9, no? ?hat time it is no?K T?ent9 to oneI4et 9ourhat on, 9oung ?oman +Gm going to drie 9ou out to Breaa?a9+nnC

CEouGre notI +Gm going to tae a bus ne runs <rom the SLuarerightpast the +nn,C she told him <irml9

And ;ust as <irml9 Dundee es*orted her out o< the almostdeserted,rather dirt9 old *ourthouse to ?here his brand-ne? sportsroadster--bought Con timeC--?as a?aiting them in the paring

spa*edeoted to the motors o< those ?ho o<<i*iall9 sered 1amilton)ount9

C+ no? ?h9 9ou ?ant to drie me out to the +nn,C enn9 told himsuddenl9, as the proud o?ner maneuered his *ar throughSaturda9 noontra<<i* CEou ?ant to see ita Selim )lanI )lanI + *an hear thepadlo*s snapping on the slae *hains right no?C

CMeo?IC Dundee retorted, then grinned do?n at her ?ith as mu*h*omradel9a<<e*tion as i< the9 had been <riends <or 9ears instead o< <or a*oupleo< hours C+s ita er9 smallKC he added

C'ittle enough to tu* hersel< under the arm o< a man a lotshorter than

9ou,C enn9 assured him ?ith *urious ehemen*e CAnd i<enelope )rainis no mean prophet, thatGs ea*tl9 ?hat sheGll do ?ithin <ieminutesa<ter she meets 9ou--;ust as she is ?ist<ull9 initing 9ou to ;ointhe



other men <or the *o*tail part9 ?hi*h is s*heduled to brea upthebridge game at .:%0 Then, o< *ourse, 9ouGll be urged to ;oin usall at

the dinner-dan*e at the )ountr9 )lub tonightC

CJill sheKC Dundee pretended to be astl9 intrigued, ?hi*h*aused theremainder o< the drie to be a rather silent one, due to enn9Gsunresponsieness

Breaa?a9 +nn ?as intensel9 Spanish in ar*hite*ture andtransplanted

shrubber9, but its stu**o ?alls ?ere o< a rather more iolentraspberr9*olor than is *onsidered Luite estheti* in Spain or Mei*o

CThereGs 'ois DunlapGs *ar ;ust driing up,C enn9 *ried, her <a*eso<tening ?ith the adoration she had <reel9 pro<essed <or her<riendBut it *louded again almost instantl9 CAnd ita Selim + supposeita

?as a little ashamed to drie up in her o?n ord *oupeC

As Dundee helped his ne? <riend to alight his e9es ?ere upon thet?o?omen being assisted b9 a uni<ormed *hau<<eur <rom 'oisDunlapGslimousine

+n a moment the <our ?ere a laughing, e*lamator9 group

Ch, ?hat a tall, grand man 9ouGe got 9oursel<, enn9 darlingICthetin9, beauti<ul *reature ?ho *ould onl9 be Mrs Selim *ried outhappil9CHMa9H + meet himKC



C+ shouldnGt let 9ou,C enn9 ans?ered <ranl9, Cbut + ?ill MrsSelim, Mr Dundee And Mrs Dunlap, Mr Dundee 1o? are9ou, 'oisK

And eter and the bratsKC

CAll ?ell, enn9 ete9Gs o<< on a ?ee-end <ishing trip, and notone o< the brats has measles, s*arlet <eer or ha9 <eer, than 4od,CDundeeheard Mrs Dunlap sa9 in the *om<ortable, a<<e*tionate oi*e that?ent?ith her *om<ortable, pleasant <a*e and bod9 i*e ?omanI

But his e9es ?ere o< ne*essit9 upon ita Selim, <or that miniatureNenus?as, as enn9 had predi*ted, almost tu*ed under his arm b9 thistime,her bla*-pans9 e9es ?ide and ?ist<ul, her so<t bla* *urls <alling<or?ard as she *oaed:

CEouGll *ome to the *o*tail part9 at m9 house at .:%0, ?onGt 9ou,

MrDundeeKC

CA<raid + *anGt mae it,C Dundee smiled do?n at her C+Gm a bus9man,Mrs Selim Eou see, +Gm Spe*ial +nestigator atta*hed to theDistri*t Attorne9Gs o<<i*e,C he eplained er9 deliberatel9

C-o-ohIC ita Selim breathed Than, step b9 step, she ?ithdre?,

so thathe ?as no longer submitted to the temptation to put his armabout hertoo intriguing little bod9 And as she retreated, DundeeGs eene9es



noted a hardening o< the bla*-pans9 e9es, the sudden throbbingo< apulse in her er9 ?hite ne*

Co, donGt mind about *alling <or me,C enn9 protested a momentlaterCRalph has alread9 olunteered Thans a?<ull9IC

As Dundee ba*ed out o< the drie?a9 his last glan*e ?as <or aer9small <igure in a bro?n sil summer *oat and palest 9ello? *hi<<on<ro*, slo?l9 re;oining enelope )rain and 'ois Dunlap Jhat thedeil

had <rightened her soK or she had been almost terri<ied <*ourseshe might be one o< those sill9 ?omen ?ho shudder at the sighto< adete*tie, be*ause the9Ge smuggled in a diamond <rom aris or abottleo< Ba*ardi <rom 1aana

But long be<ore his *ar made the distan*e ba* to the *it9 Dundee

hadshrugged o<< the riddle and ?as *on*entrating on all the <a*ts hene?regarding the Magint9 *ase +t ?as his <irst real assignment <romSanderson, and he ?as determined to mae good

our hours later he ?as interrupted in his *are<ul reading o< thetrialo< Ru<us Magint9 b9 the ringing o< the telephone bell That made

<ourtimes he had had to snap out the <a*t that Distri*t Attorne9Sanderson?as pla9ing some ?ell-earned gol< on the )ountr9 )lub lins,Dundeere<le*ted angril9, as he pi*ed up the re*eier



But the *all ?as <or Dundee himsel<, and the oi*e on the otherend o< the ?ire ?as enn9 )rainGs, although almost unre*ogniable

CSpea more slo?l9, enn9IC Dundee urged CJhatGs that again4ood'ordI Eou sa9 that ita SelimC

A<ter a minute o< listening, and a promise o< instant obedien*e,Dundeehung up the re*eier

CM9 4odIC he said slo?l9, blanl9 C< all things--Hmurder atbridgeHIC

)1AT(R TJ

As Spe*ial +nestigator Dundee droe through the *it9 o<1amilton at aspeed o< sit9 miles an hour, his ?a9 being *leared b9 tra<<i*poli*emen?arned b9 the shrill o<<i*ial siren ?hi*h sered him as a horn, hehadlittle time to thin *onne*tedl9 o< the <a*t that ita Selim hadbeenmurdered during a bridge game in her rented home in rimrose

Meado?s

(en a<ter the broad sleeness o< Sheridan Road stret*hed be<orehim he*ould do little more than tr9 to realie the sho* ?hi*h hadnumbed



him C'oel9 ita,C as the so*iet9 editor o< HThe Morning e?sHhad*alled her, ?as--HdeadHI 1o?, ?h9, he did not no? 1e hadased no

details o< enn9 )rain unn9, thorn9 little enn9I 'o9al littleenn9I

C3udge Marshall has telephoned oli*e 1eadLuarters,C she hadtold himbreathlessl9 oer the telephone, Cbut + made him let me *all 9ouas soonas he had hung up + ?anted HourH o<<i*e to be in on this right<rom the

<irstC

Beauti<ul, sedu*tie ita Selim, almost *uddling under his arm?ithinthree minutes o< meeting him--HdeadHI A ision o< her bla*-pans9 e9es,so ?ide and luminous and ?ist<ul as the9 had looed side?a9sand up?ardto his, pleading <or him to ;oin her a<ter-bridge *o*tail part9,

nearl9made him *rash into a lumbering <urniture an Those e9es ?ereluminousno longer, *ould neer again snap the padlo*s o< slae *hainsupon an9man--as enn9 had epressed it DeadI And she had been so?arml9alie, een as she had retreated <rom him at his mention o< the<a*t

that he ?as atta*hed to the o<<i*e o< the distri*t attorne9 as aspe*ialinestigator Jhat had she <eared thenK Jas her death apa9ment <or somere*ent or long-standing *rimeK r had she simpl9 been?ithdra?ing <rom



*ontamination ?ith a C<lat-<ootCK oI She had been Ha<raidH--horribl9a<raid o< some ulterior purpose behind his inno*ent *ourtes9 indriing

enelope )rain to Breaa?a9 +nn

Jell, spe*ulation no? ?as idle, he told himsel<, as he noted thathisspeedometer had dropped <rom sit9 to thirt9 in hispreo**upation 1espeeded again, but ?as soon <or*ed to stop and as his ?a9 intorimroseMeado?s The ague dire*tions o< a <armerGs son lost him nearl9

eightpre*ious minutes, during ?hi*h his <riend, )aptain Stra?n o< the1omi*ide SLuad, might be bungling things rather badl9 But atlast he<ound the ornate pair o< pillars spanned b9 the painted legend,Crimrose Meado?s,C and droe through them into ?hat soonbe*ame arutted lane Almost a Luarter o< a mile <rom the entran*e he<ound the

isolated house, unmistaable be*ause o< the line-up o< priate*arspared be<ore the short stret*h o< paed side?al, and the addedpresen*e o< poli*e *ars and motor*9*les

Dundee turned his o?n *ar into the drie?a9 leading <rom thestreetalong the right side o< the house to?ard the t?o-*ar garage in therear

Ahead o< his roadster ?ere t?o other *ars, and a glan*e to?ardthe opengarage sho?ed that a ord *oupe ?as housed there

As he ?as des*ending )aptain Stra?nGs oi*e hailed him <rom anopen



?indo? o< the room nearest the garage

C1ello, BonnieI Been epe*ting 9ou Damnedest business 9oueer

sa? ThereGs a door <rom this room onto the por*h 1op up and*ome oninC

Dundee obe9ed Driing in he had noted that a ?ide por*h,upheld b9round ?hite pillars, stret*hed a*ross the <ront o< the gabled bri*house and etended hal<?a9 along its right side, past a room?hi*h ?as

obiousl9 a solarium, ?ith its *ontinuous ?indo?s, ga9 a?nings,and--isible through the glittering panes--orange-and-bla*?i*er<urniture

+t ?as eas9 to s?ing himsel< up to the <loor o< the por*h Stra?n<lungopen the door ?hi*h led into the ba* room, remaring ?ith agrin:

CDonGt be a<raid +Gm gumming up an9 <ingerprints )arra?a9 hasalread9been oer the room The Selim ?omanGs bedroom,C heeplained CTheroom she ?as illed inC

CEou HhaeH been on the ;ob,C Dundee *omplimented his <ormer*hie<

CSureIC Stra?n a*no?ledged proudl9 C)anGt be too Lui* on ourstumps?hen itGs one o< these Ghigh sassiet9G murders Dr ri*e ?ill behere



an9 minute no?, and m9 men hae been all oer the premises,basement toatti* < *ourse it ?as an outside ;ob--plain as the nose on 9our<a*e--and ?e haenGt <ound a tra*e o< the murdererC

Although Mrs Selim had taen the house <urnished, it ?asobious thatthis big bedroom o< hers ?as not ea*tl9 as the )rain <amil9 hadle<tit A little too prett9, a little too aggressiel9 <eminine, ?ith its*haise longue heaped ?ith sil and la*e pillo?s, its super<luit9 o<bigand little lamps, its bed draped ?ith golden-9ello? ta<<eta, its

dressing table--

But he *ould not let *riti*al e9es linger on the triple-mirroredanit9dresser or on the ben*h be<ore it sat a tin9 <igure, the headbo?ed solo? that some o< the bla* *urls had <allen into a large open bo?lo< po?der She ?as no longer ?earing the bro?n sil summer *oat

?hose open<ront had gien him a glimpse o< pale 9ello? *hi<<on

1e sa? the dress no?, a lo?-*ut, sleeeless, <lu<<9 a<<air, but hereall9 had e9es onl9 <or the bro?nish-red hole on the le<t side o<theba* o< the bodi*e, about hal<?a9 bet?een shoulder and ?aist--a?aist sosmall he *ould hae spanned it ?ith his t?o hands, in*luding its

band o< <u*hsia elet ribbon There also had been a bo? o< <u*hsia eletribbon on the la*e and stra? hat she had s?ung so *harmingl9less than<ie hours ago



CShot through the heart, + guess,C Stra?n *ommented CToo agoodmarsman to <ind her heart, shooting her through the ba*unn9

thing, too obod9 heard the shot--least?a9s none o< that *ro?dpennedup in the liing room ?ill admit the9 did The9Gll all hang together,and lie lie sit9 to eep us <rom <inding out an9thing that mightpointto one o< HtheirH pre*ious bun*hI But i< a gun ?ith a Maimsilen*er H?asH used, as it must hae been i< that ?hole *re? ainGt l9ing,the

gunman musta been HgoodH, be*ause 9ou *anGt sight ?ith aMaim s*re?edonto a rod, 9ou no?C

C1ae 9our men <ound the gunKC Dundee ased

C< *ourse not, or +Gd no? ?hether it had a Maim on it or not,CStra?nretorted CM9 theor9 is,C he added impressiel9, Cthat somebod9

?ith agrudge against this dame hired a gunman to hang around till hegot herdead to rights, then--plopIC and he imitated the so<t, thuddingsoundmade b9 the dis*harge o< a bullet <rom a gun eLuipped ?ith asilen*er

CDoesnGt it seem rather strange that a pro<essional gunman

should hae*hosen su*h a time--?ith men arriing in *ars, and the house <ullo< ?omen ?ho might ?ander into this room at an9 minute--to bumpo<< hisi*timKC Dundee ased



CJell, there ainGt no other eplanation,C )aptain Stra?n*ontendedCutside o< the <a*t that m9 men hae gone oer the ?hole house

andgrounds ?ithout <inding the gun, +Ge got other eiden*e it ?as anoutside ;ob 'ooIC

Dundee <ollo?ed the )hie< o< the 1omi*ide SLuad to one o< thet?o?indo?s that looed out upon the drie?a9 Both ?ere open,sin*e the Ma9da9 ?as e*eptionall9 ?arm, een <or the Middle Jest The

uns*reened?indo? <rom ?hi*h he obedientl9 leaned ?as almost dire*tl9 inline ?iththe anit9 dressing-table a*ross the room

C'ooI See ho? them ines hae been torn,C Stra?n dire*ted,pointing toa rambler rose ?hi*h hugged the outside <rame o< the ?indo?CAnd loo

hard enough at the <lo?er bed do?n belo? and 9ouGll see his<ootprints < *ourse ?eGe measured them and )ain, as 9ousee, isguarding them till m9 man *omes to mae plaster *asts o<them Ees,sir, he hoisted himsel< up to the ?indo? ledge, aimed as best he*ould,then slipped do?n and beat it a*ross the meado?C

CThen,C Dundee began slo?l9, C+ ?onder ?h9 Mrs Selim didnGtsee that<igure *rou*hed in the ?indo?, sin*e she must hae beenpo?dering her<a*e and looing into the middle o< the three mirrors--the one?hi*h



re<le*ts this er9 ?indo?KC

C1o? do 9ou no? she ?as po?dering her <a*e, not looing <orsomething

in a dra?erKC Stra?n demanded tru*ulentl9

Cor three reasons,C Dundee ans?ered almost apologeti*all9Cirst: herpo?der pu<<, as +Gm sure 9ou noti*ed, is still *lut*hed in her righthandF se*ond: there is no dra?er open, and no dra?er H?asHopen, unlesssomeone has *losed it sin*e the murder, ?hereas on the otherhand her

po?der bo HisH openF third: the le<t side o< her <a*e is uneenl9*oated ?ith po?der, ?hile the other is heail9 but Heenl9Hpo?deredThere<ore + *anGt see ?h9 she didnGt s*ream, or turn around ?hensheheard 9our gunman *lambering up to her ?indo?, or een ?henhe had*rou*hed in it + donGt see ho? she *ould HhelpH seeing himIC

CJell--?hat do H9ouH thinKC Stra?n ased sourl9, a<ter he hadtestedthe isibilit9 o< the ?indo? <rom the dressing-table mirror

C+Gm a<raid, )aptain Stra?n, that there are onl9 t?o eplanationspossible The <irst, o< *ourse, is that ita Selim ?as Luite dea< orer9 nearsighted + happen to no? <rom haing met her toda9--C

CHEouH met her toda9KC Stra?n interrupted in*redulousl9

Dundee eplained brie<l9, then ?ent on: CAs + ?as sa9ing + haegoodreason to no? she ?as not dea<, but + *anGt sa9 as to her beingnearsighted, e*ept that it is m9 obseration that people ?ho are



etremel9 nearsighted do not hae er9 ?ide e9es and no *reasesbet?eenthe bro?s + am <airl9 sure she did not ?ear glasses at all,be*ause

glasses ?orn een a <e? hours a da9 leae a mar a*ross thenose or sho?pin*hed red spots on ea*h side o< the bridge o< the noseC

CEou must hae had a good hard loo at her,C Stra?n gibed, hisgre9 e9est?inling, and his harsh, thin-lipped mouth pulling do?n at one*ornerin ?hat he thought ?as a genial smile

C+ did,C Dundee retorted CJell, *on*eding that she ?as neitherdea< norhal<-blind, she ?ould ne*essaril9 hae heard and seen herassailantbe<ore he shot herC

CJhatGs the other eplanationKC Stra?n ?as be*oming impatient

CThat the person ?ho illed her ?as so ?ell no?n to her, andhis--orher--presen*e in this room so natural a thing that she paid noattentionto his or her moements and ?as *on*entrating on the ;ob o<po?deringher er9 prett9 <a*eC

CEou mean--one o< that gang o< so*iet9 <ols in thereKC and

Stra?n ;ered a thumb to?ard the le<t side o< the house

CNer9 probabl9,C Dundee agreed

CBut ?hereGs the gunKC Stra?n argued C+ tell 9ou m9 men--C



CThis ?as a premeditated murder, o< *ourse,C Dundee interruptedCTheMaim silen*er--unless the9 are all l9ing about not hearing a

shot--proes that Silen*ers are damned hard to get hold o<, butpeople?ith plent9 o< mone9 *an manage most things And sin*e themurder ?aspremeditated, it is better to *ount on the <a*t that the murderer--ormurderess--had planned a prett9 sa<e hiding pla*e <or the gunand thesilen*er h, not ne*essaril9 in the house or een near the

house,Che hastened to assure Stra?n, ?ho ?as tr9ing to brea in CB9the?a9, ho? long a<ter Mrs Selim ?as illed ?as her deathdis*oeredK rdo 9ou no?KC

C+ haenGt been able to get mu*h out o< that bun*h in there--noteen

out o< enelope )rain, ?ho ought to be ?illing to help, seeing asho?she ?ors <or the distri*t attorne9 But + guess sheGs ?aiting tospillit all to 9ou, i< she no?s an9thing, so 9ou and Sanderson ?ill getallthe *reditC

Co?, loo here, *hie<,C Dundee protested, la9ing a hand on

Stra?nGsshoulder as he reerted to the name b9 ?hi*h he had addressedthe heado< the 1omi*ide SLuad <or nearl9 a 9ear, C?eGre going to be<riends,



arenGt ?eK Same as al?a9sK Je no? prett9 ?ell ho? to ?ortogether,donGt ?eK o use to begin pulling against ea*h otherC

C4uess so,C Stra?n gro?led, but he ?as obiousl9 pleased andrelieedCMa9be 9ouGd better hae a *ra* at that *ro?d 9oursel< + hearDo*ri*eGs *ar--al?a9s has a bum spar plug +Gll sti* around ?ithhimuntil he gets going good on his ;obF then, i< 9ouGll e*use me <orbutting in, +Gll ;oin 9our part9 in the liing room And good lu*to

9ou, BonnieIC

Dundee too the door he ne? must lead into the *entral hall, but<oundhimsel< in an en*losed se*tion o< it--a small <o9er bet?een themainhall and ita SelimGs bedroom There ?as room <or a telephonetable andits *hair, as ?ell as <or a small so<a, large enough <or t?o to sit

upon*om<ortabl9 1e paused to open the door a*ross <rom thetelephone tableand <ound that it opened into a *loset, ?hose hangers and hat<orms no?held the outdoor *lothing belonging to itaGs guests i*e*lothes--thesmart but unostentatious hats and *oats o< mone9ed people o<good taste,

he obsered a little eniousl9, be<ore he opened the door ?hi*hled intothe main hall ?hi*h bise*ted the main <loor o< the house until itrea*hed itaGs room



Another door in the se*tion behind the stair*ase leading to thegabledse*ond stor9 net *laimed his attention pening it, he dis*oereda

beauti<ull9 <itted guestsG laator9 There ?as een a <ull9appointeddressing-table <or ?omenGs use, so that none o< her guests hadhad theslightest e*use to inade the pria*9 o< Mrs SelimGs bedroomand bath,unless spe*i<i*all9 inited to do so Rather a ?ell planned house,this,Dundee *on*luded, as he *losed the door upon the green

por*elain<itures, and ?aled slo?l9 to?ard the ?ide ar*h?a9 that led<rom thehall into a large liing room

1e had a *urious relu*tan*e to intrude upon that assembled andguarded*ompan9 o< 1amiltonGs Creal so*iet9C The9 ?ere all enn9Gs<riends, and

enn9 ?as HhisH <riend

But his <irst s?i<t, all-seeing glan*e about the room reassuredhim oh9steri*s here These people brought ra*e and breeding een intothepresen*e o< death Jhateer emotions had torn them ?hen itaSelimGsbod9 ?as dis*oered ?ere almost unguessable no? A stout,

short ?oman o< about thirt9 ?as tapping a <oot nerousl9, as she taled to theman ?ho?as bending oer her *hair 3ohn ) Drae, that ?as Dundee hadmet him,



ne? him to be a i*e president o< the 1amilton ational Ban, in*hargeo< the trust department enelope )rain ?as o**up9ing hal< o< aCloe-seatC ?ith 'ois Dunlap, the hands o< the girl and o< the

?oman*linging together <or mutual *om<ort That tall, thin, oldish man,?iththe ?aed gre9 musta*he, must be 3udge 1ugo Marshall, and theprett9girl leaning trustingl9 against his shoulder must be his ?i<e--7arenMarshall, ?ho had ;umped at her <irst proposal during her <irstseason

CEes, ?ell-bred people,C he *on*luded, as his e9es s?ept on, andthenstopped, a little be?ildered Jho ?as HthatH manK 1e didnGtbelongsomeho?, and his hands trembled isibl9 as he tried to light a*igarette 'eaning--not non*halantl9, but a*tuall9 <or support--againstthe bro*aded *oral sil drapes o< a pair o< ?ide, long ?indo?s set

inthe east ?all Suddenl9 Dundee had it Broad?a9I This ?as no1amiltonian, no *om<ortabl9 ri*h and so*iall9 se*ure Middle-?esternerBroad?a9 in eer9 line o< his too-?ell-tailored *lothes, in thepolishedsmoothness o< his dar hair

CJh9, itGs Mr Dundee at lastIC enn9 *ried, turning in the S-

shapedseat be<ore he had time to <inish his mental inentor9 o< theroomGso**upants



She ;umped to her <eet and threaded a s?i<t ?a9 oer rientalrugs andbet?een the t?o bridge tables, still o**up9ing the *enter o< thebig

room, still *luttered ?ith s*ore pads, tall9 *ards, and pla9ing*ards

C+Ge been ?ondering i< 9ou had stopped to hae dinner <irst,C shetaunted him Then, la9ing a hand on his arm, she <a*ed the liingroomeagerl9 CThis is Mr Dundee, <ols--spe*ial inestigator atta*hedtothe distri*t attorne9Gs o<<i*e, and a grand dete*tie 1e soled the

1ogarth murder *ase, 9ou no?, and the 1ill*rest murder AndheGs Hm9H<riend, so + ?ant 9ou all to trust him--and tell him things ?ithoutbeing a<raid o< himC

Then, rather *eremoniousl9 but s?i<tl9, she presented her<riends--3udgeand Mrs 1ugo Marshall, Mr and Mrs Tra*e9 Miles, Mr and Mrs3ohn )

Drae, Mrs Dunlap, 3anet Ra9mond, oll9 Beale, )lie 1ammond,and--

At that point enn9 hesitated, then rather sti<<l9 in*luded theCBroad?a9C man, as CMr Deter Sprague--o< e? EorC

CThan 9ou, Miss )rain,C Dundee said Co? ?ill 9ou please tellme, i< 9ou no?, ?hether all those inited to both the bridge part9 and

the*o*tail part9 are hereKC

enn9Gs <a*e <lamed CRalph 1ammond, )lieGs brother, hasnGt*ome



9et +--+ rather imagine +Ge been Gstood up,GC she *on<essed,?ith a<aint attempt at ga9et9

And Ralph 1ammond ?as the man ?ho had on*e belonged rathere*lusiel9to enn9, and ?ho, a**ording to her o?n *on<ession, hadsu**umbed most*ompletel9 to ita SelimGs *harmsI--Dundee noted, <iling there<le*tion<or <urther re<eren*e

Clease, Mr Dundee, ?onGt 9ou detain us as short a time as

possibleKC'ois Dunlap ased, as she adan*ed to?ard him CMr Dunlap isa?a9 on a<ishing trip, and + donGt lie to leae m9 three 9oungsters toolongThe9 are reall9 too mu*h o< a hand<ul <or the goerness, oer aperiodo< hoursC

C+ shall detain all o< 9ou no longer than is absolutel9 ne*essar9,CDundee told her gentl9, Cbut + am a<raid + must ?arn 9ou that +*anGtlet 9ou go home er9 soon--unless one or more o< 9ou hassomething o< ital importan*e to tell--something ?hi*h ?ill *lear up ormateriall9help to *lear up this bad businessC

1e paused a long hal<-minute, then ased *urtl9: C+ am to*on*lude thatno one has an9thing at all to olunteerKC

There ?as no ans?er, other than a barel9 per*eptible dra?ingtogether in



sel<-de<en*e o< the minds and hearts o< those ?ho had been<riends <orso long

CNer9 ?ell,C Dundee *on*eded abruptl9 CThen + must put all o<9outhrough a routine eamination, sin*e eer9 one o< 9ou is, o<*ourse, apossible suspe*tC

)1AT(R T1R((

C4ood-b9, dinnerIC groaned the plump, blond little man ?ho hadbeenintrodu*ed as Tra*e9 Miles, as he sorro?<ull9 patted his ratherprominent stoma*h

CDonGt ?orr9, darling,C begged the dar, neuroti*-looing ?oman

?ho ?aslora Miles, his ?i<e C+Gm sure Mr Dundee ?ill as '9dia--pooritaGsmaid, 9ou no?--C she eplained in an aside to Dundee, C--toprepare alight supper <or us i< he reall9 needs to detain us long--?hi*h +amsure he ?onGtC

C1o? *an 9ou thin o< <ood no?KC oll9 Beale, the tall, sturd9 girl?ithan almost mas*uline bob and a Luite mas*uline t?eed suit,demandedbrusLuel9 1er oi*e had an un<eminine la* o< modulation, but?hen



Dundee sa? her glan*e to?ard )lie 1ammond he realied thatshe ?as?holl9 <eminine ?here he ?as *on*erned, at least

C< *ourse, ?e are all Hdread<ull9H *ut up oer poor itaGs--death,Cgasped a rather prett9 girl, ?hose most distinguishing <eature?as her*rop o< *rinl9, light-red hair

C+ assume that to be true, Miss Ra9mond,C Dundee ans?eredCBut ?e mustlose no more time getting at the <a*ts 3ust ?hen ?as Mrs Selim

murderedKC

At the brutal use o< the ?ord a shudder rippled oer the small*ro?dDeter Sprague, Co< e? Eor,C dropped his lighted *igarette?here it?ould hae burned a hole in a <ine ersian rug, i< SergeantTurner, onguard oer the room <or )aptain Stra?n, had not slou*hed <rom

his *ornerto plant a big <oot upon it

CJe donGt no? ea*tl9 ?hen it happened,C enn9 olunteeredCJe ?erepla9ing bridge, the last hand o< the last rubber, be*ause the men?erearriing <or *o*tails, ?hen ita be*ame dumm9 and ?ent to herbedroom

to--C

CTo mae hersel< Gprett9-prett9G <or the men,C Mrs Draemimi*edFthen, realiing the possible e<<e*t o< her *attiness on Dundee, she



de<ended hersel< olubl9: C< *ourse + HliedH ita, but she HdidHthinso terribl9 mu*h about her e<<e*t on men--and all that, and ?asal?a9s

<iing her mae-up, and besides--9ou H*anGtH suspe*t me,be*ause + ?aspla9ing against 7aren and ita--C

CThan 9ou, Mrs Drae,C Dundee *ut in CDoes an9one no? theea*t timeMrs Selim le<t the room, ?hen she be*ame dumm9KC

C+ *an tell 9ou, be*ause + had ;ust arried--the <irst o< the men to

gethere,C Tra*e9 Miles olunteered, obiousl9 glad o< the *han*e total--a*hara*teristi* o< the man, Dundee de*ided C+ looed at m9 ?at*h ;usta<ter + stepped out o< m9 *ar, be*ause + lie to be on time to thedot,and ita--Mrs Selim--had said .:%0 Jell, it ?as ea*tl9 .:2.,so +

had <ie minutes to spareC

CEesKC Dundee speeded him up impatientl9

CJell, + *ame right into the hall, and hung m9 hat in the *losetoutthere, and then *ame in here +t must hae been about .:2O b9thattime,C he eplained, ?ith the meti*ulousness o< a man on the

?itnessstand C+ shouted, G1ello, eer9bod9I 1o?Gs tri*sKG ThatGs a ;oe,9ou no? G1o?Gs tri*sKG--meaning tri*s in bridge--C



CEes, 9es,C Dundee admitted, <ro?ning, but the rest o< the*ompan9e*hanged indulgent smiles, and lora Miles patted her husbandGshand

<ondl9

CJell, ita ;umped up <rom the bridge table--that one rightthere,CMiles pointed to the table nearer the ar*hed door?a9, Cand shesaid,G4ood heaensI +s it hal< past <ie alread9K +Ge got to run andmaem9sel< Gprett9-prett9G <or ;ust su*h great big men as 9ou,

Tra*e9--C

CGTra*e9, darlingGIC 3udge Marshall *orre*ted, ?ith a *hu*le thatsounded odd in the tensel9 silent room

Tra*e9 Miles <lushed a salmon pin, and his ?i<eGs <ingers *lut*hedathis hand ?arningl9 Ch, ita *alled eer9bod9 Gdarling,G anddidnGt

mean an9thing b9 it, + guess,C he eplained uneasil9 C3ust one o<her*ute little ?a9s-- Jell, an9?a9, she *ame up to me andstraightenedm9 ne*tie--another one o< her <unn9 little ?a9s--and said,GTra*e9,m9 Ho?nH lamb, ?onGt 9ou shae up the *o*tails <or poor littleitaKG Eou no?, a sort o< ?a9 she had o< *oaing people--C

CEes, + no?,C Dundee agreed, ?ith a tra*e o< a grin C4o on asrapidl9as 9ou *an, pleaseC

C+ thought 9ou ?anted to no? eer9thingIC Miles ?as a littlepeeishF



he had eidentl9 been en;o9ing himsel< C< *ourse + said +Gdmae the*o*tails--she said eer9thing ?as read9 on the sideboard ThatGsthe

dining room right behind this room,C he eplained unne*essaril9,sin*ethe ren*h doors ?ere open CJell, ita ble? me a iss <rom her<ingertips, and ran out o< the room o?, letGs see,C heruminated,*reasing his sunburned <orehead beneath his *are<ull9 *ombedblond hair,Cthat must hae been at ea*tl9 .:%0 that she le<t the room +?ent on

into the dining room, and 'ois--+ mean, Mrs Dunlap *ame ?ithme,be*ause she said she ?as simpl9 d9ing <or a *aiar sand?i*h anda nipo<--o<--C

C< S*ot*h, Tra*e9,C 'ois Dunlap *ut in, grinning C+Gm sure MrDundee?onGt thin +Gm a *on<irmed tippler, so 9ou might as ?ell tell the

truth, the ?hole truth, and nothing but the truth oor Tra*e9has adeadl9 <ear that ?e are all going to lose the last shred o< ourreputations in this deplorable a<<air, Mr Dundee,C she added in arather sha9 ersion o< the *om<ortable, ri*h oi*e he had heardearlierin the da9

C+Gm not going to pr9 into *ellars,C Dundee assured her in the

samespirit CJhat else, Mr MilesKC

Cothing mu*h,C Tra*e9 Miles *on<essed, ?ith apparent regret C+?asstill miing--no, +Gd begun to shae the *o*tails--?hen + heard a



s*ream--C

CJhose s*reamKC Dundee demanded, looing about the room,and dismissing

Miles than<ull9

C+t ?as--+,C 3udge MarshallGs <air-haired, blue-e9ed little brideolunteered in a oi*e that threatened to rise to h9steria

CTell me all about it,C Dundee urged gentl9

CEes, sir,C she Luaered, ?hile her husbandGs arm en*ir*led hershoulders in *ourtl9 <ashion CAs Tra*e9 told 9ou, ita ?as

dumm9, and +?as de*larer--that is, + got the bid, and pla9ed the hand +t--it?asLuite an e*iting end <or me to the a<ternoon o< bridge, <or +Gmnotusuall9 a?<ull9 lu*9, so ?hen enn9 had <igured up the s*ore,be*ause+Gm not good at arithmeti*, and + ne? ita and + had rolled upan

a?<ull9 big s*ore, + ;umped up and ran into her room to tell herthegood ne?s, be*ause she hadnGt *ome ba* And--and--there she?as--allbo?ed oer her dressing-table, and she--she ?as--?as--C

CShe ?as dead ?hen 9ou rea*hed herKC Dundee assisted her

CEes,C 7aren Marshall ans?ered <aintl9, and turned to hide her

<a*eagainst her elderl9 husbandGs breast

DundeeGs s?i<t e9es too in the ar9ing degrees o< ?hiteness andsi*



horror that *laimed eer9 <a*e in the room as surel9 as i< allpresenthad not alread9 heard 7aren tell her stor9 to )aptain Stra?nTra*e9

Miles looed as i< he ?ould hae no immediate *raing <or hisdinner,and 3udge MarshallGs <ine, thin <a*e no longer looed soC?ell-preseredC as he prided himsel< that it did As <or DeterSprague, he almost <olded up against the *oral bro*ade draperies+t ?asthe ?omen, oddl9 enough, ?ho ept the better *ontrol oer theiremotions

C< *ourse 9ou all rushed in ?hen Mrs Marshall s*reamedKC heased*asuall9

T?ele heads nodded mutel9

CDid an9 or all o< 9ou tou*h the bod9, or things in the roomKC

CMr Sprague tou*hed her hair, and--and li<ted one o< her hands,C

enn9*ontributed Luietl9 CBut 9ou no? ho? it must hae beenI Je*anGt an9o< us tell Hea*tl9H eer9 moe ?e made, but there ?as somerushingabout The men, mostl9, looing <or--<or ?hoeer did it--C

CMrs Marshall, did 9ou see an9one--Han9one at allH--in or nearthat

room ?hen 9ou entered itKC

The ?hite-<a*ed 9oung ?i<e li<ted her head, and looed at himdaedl9?ith dro?ned blue e9es CThere ?asnGt an9one in--in that room, +no?,C



she <altered C+t <elt horrible--being in there ?ith--?ith HherH--allalone--C

CBut near the roomK +n the main hall or in the little <o9er ?here

thetelephone isKC Dundee persisted

C+--donGt thin so + *anGt--remember--seeing Han9oneH h,1ugoICand again she *rou*hed against her husband, ?ho soothed her?ithtrembling hands that looed in*ongruousl9 old against her*hildish <air

hair and <a*e

CJhere ?ere the rest o< 9ou--Hea*tl9H ?here, + meanKC Dundeedemanded,*ons*ious that )aptain Stra?n had entered the room and ?asstandingslightl9 behind him

There ?as su*h a babel o< ans?ers, gien and then hastil9

*orre*ted,that Dundee broe in suddenl9:

C+ ?ant a *onne*ted stor9 o< Gthe eents leading up to thetraged9G And+ ?ant someone to tell it ?ho hasnGt lost his--or her--head at allC1elooed about the *ompan9, as i< spe*ulatiel9, but his mind ?asalread9

made up CMiss )rain, ?ill 9ou tell the stor9, beginning ?ith themoment+ le<t 9ou and Mrs Dunlap and Mrs Selim toda9KC

enn9 nodded miserabl9 and ?as about to begin



C3ust a minute, be<ore 9ou begin, Miss )rain,C Dundee reLuestedC+Gdlie to mae notes on 9our stor9,C and he dre? <rom a *oatpo*et a

shorthand boo, hastil9 <il*hed <rom enn9Gs o?n tid9 des CEes,Cheans?ered the girlGs <ran stare o< amaement, C+ *an ?riteshorthand--o< a sort, and prett9 <ast, at that, though no other human being, +ama<raid, *ould read it but m9sel< As <or 9ou <ols,C he addressedtheuneas9, silent group o< men and ?omen in dead itaGs liing

room, C+shall as 9ou not to interrupt Miss )rain unless 9ou are er9 surethather memor9 is at <aultC

enelope )rain ?as about to begin <or the se*ond time, ?henagain Dundeeinterrupted CAnother hal< se*ond, pleaseC

n the <irst sheet o< the ne? shorthand noteboo Dundees*ribbled:CSuggest 9ou tr9 to lo*ate Ralph 1ammond immediatel9 Ner9mu*h in loe?ith Mrs Selim +nited to *o*tail part9F did not sho? upCTearingthe sheet <rom the noteboo, he passed it to )aptain Stra?n, ?horeadit, <ro?ning, and then nodded

CDo* ri*e has done all he *an here,C Stra?n ?hispered husil9CJantsto no? i< 9ouGd lie to spea to him be<ore he taes the bod9 tothemorgueC



C)ertainl9,C Dundee ans?ered as he grinned apologeti*all9 to thegirl?ho ?as ?aiting, ?hite-<a*ed but patientl9, to tell the stor9 o< the

a<ternoon

ui*l9 suppressed shudders and lo? e*lamations o< horror<ollo?ed himand the *hie< o< the 1omi*ide SLuad <rom the room

CJell, Bonnie bo9, ?e meet again, <or the usual reason,C old Drri*egreeted the distri*t attorne9Gs ne? spe*ial inestigator CAnother

sho*ing a<<air--that A ni*e *lean ?ound, one o< the neatest ;obs +eer sa? Shot entered the ba*, and penetrated the heart HNer9Hni*el9 *al*ulated +< the bullet had stru* a Luarter o< an in*hhigher,it ?ould hae been de<le*ted b9 the--C

CBut the HpathH o< the bullet, do*torIC Dundee broe in C1ae

9ou madean9 *al*ulations as to the pla*e and distan*e at ?hi*h the shot?as<iredKC

CRoughl9 speaing--9es,C the *oroner ans?ered CThe gun ?as<ired at adistan*e, probabl9, o< ten or <i<teen <eet--perhaps *loser, but +donGt

thin so,C he amended meti*ulousl9 CAs <or the path o< the bullet,+hae <ied it, ;udging <rom the position o< the bod9, ?hi*h + amassuredhad not been moed be<ore m9 arrial, as *oming <rom a pointsome?here



into the morgue <or an autops9 And +Gll send 9ou both a *op9 o<m9<indingsC

C3ust a minute, Dr ri*e,C Dundee detained him C1o? old ?ould9ou sa9Mrs Selim ?asKC

The little do*tor pursed his ?rinled lips and *onsidered <or amoment,e9eing the bod9 stret*hed upon the *haise longue spe*ulatiel9

CJe-ell, bet?een thirt9 and thirt9-<our 9ears old,C he ans?ered

<inall9C< *ourse, 9ou understand that that estimate is uno<<i*ial, andmustremain so, until + hae *ompleted the autops9--C

Dundee stared do?n at the upturned <a*e o< the dead ?oman?ith startledin*redulit9 Bet?een thirt9 and thirt9-<our 9ears oldI That tin9,loel9--But she ?as not Luite so loel9 in death, in spite o< the

serenit9 it had brought to those on*e-ia*ious <eatures eeringmore*losel9, he *ould see--?ithout those luminous, ?ide e9es to*enter hisattention--numerous <ine lines on the ?aen <a*e, the sla*nesso< alittle pou*h o< so<t <lesh beneath her round *hin, an o**asional?hitehair among the shoulder-length dar *urls Dundee sighed

1o? eas9 it?as <or a beauti<ul ?oman to de*eie men ?ith a pair o< ?ide,elet9bla* e9esI But heGd bet the ?omen had not been Luite sothoroughl9



taen in b9 her *uddl9 *hildishness, her odd miture o<demureness and9outh<ul impuden*eI

Ba* in the liing room, ?hose o**upants stopped ?hispering andgre?taut ?ith suspense, Dundee seated himsel< at a little red-la*Luertable,noteboo spread, ?hile Stra?n settled himsel< heail9 in thenearestoerstu<<ed arm*hair

Co?, Miss )rain, + am Luite read9, i< 9ou ?ill <orgie me <or

haingept 9ou ?aitingC

+n a er9 Luiet oi*e--slightl9 hus9, as al?a9s--enn9 began herstor9:

C+ thin it la*ed t?o or three minutes o< one oG*lo* ?hen 9oudroea?a9 ita, 'ois--do 9ou mind i< + use the names + am most

a**ustomedtoK Than 9ouI--and + ?ent immediatel9 into the lounge o<Breaa?a9+nn, ?here ?e <ound )arol9n Drae and lora Miles ?aiting <or usitasoon le<t us to see about the arrangement o< the table, and ?hileshe?as a?a9 the rest o< the girls arriedC

C(*ept--C a ?omanGs oi*e broe in

C+ ?as going to sa9 all eight o< us ?ere read9 <or lun*h e*eptoll9Beale She hadnGt *ome,C enn9 ?ent on, her hus9 oi*e a littlesharp



?ith anno9an*e CJhen ita *ame to as us into the priatedining room,one o< the +nnGs emplo9ees *ame and told her there ?as a *all <orher

and sho?ed her to the priate booth in the lounge +n a minuteitareturned and told us that oll9 ?asnGt *oming to the lun*heon,but ?ould ;oin us later <or bridge hereC

CJh9 donGt 9ou tell him ho? <unn9 ita a*tedKC 3anet Ra9mondprompted

enn9 <lushed, but she a**epted the prompting C+ thin an9 o< usmighthae been a little--anno9ed,C she said steadil9, as i< striing to beutterl9 truth<ul Cita told us--C she turned to Dundee, ?hosepen*il?as <l9ing, Cthat oll9 had made no e*use at allF in <a*t, sheLuotedoll9 ea*tl9: GSorr9, ita )anGt mae it <or lun*h +Gll sho? up at9our pla*e at 2:%0 <or bridgeGC

Cita *ouldnGt bear the least hint o< being slighted,C 3anetRa9mondeplained, ?ith a mali*ious gleam in her pale blue e9es C+< ithadnGtbeen <or 'ois and 1ugo--3udge Marshall, + mean--ita Selim?ould neerhae been in*luded in an9 o< our a<<airs--and she Hne?H itI TheDunlaps

*an do an9thing the9 please, be*ause the9Gre--C

Clease, 3anetIC 'ois Dunlap *ut in, her usuall9 pla*id oi*ebe*omingLuite sharp CEou must no? b9 this time that + mae <riends?hereer +



please, and that + lied--9es, + ?as Hetremel9H <ond o< poor littleita +n <a*t, + am <or*ed to beliee that, o< all the ?omen shemet inthis to?n, + ?as her onl9 real <riendC

There ?as a <lush o< anger on her loabl9 plain <a*e as her gre9e9es*hallenged <irst one and then another o< the Cors9te girlsC neor t?olooed a little ashamed, but there ?as not a single oi*e to*ontradi*t'ois DunlapGs <lat assertion

CJill 9ou please go on, en--Miss )rainKC Dundee urged, but hehadmissed nothing o< the little b9-pla9

C+ ?ish 9ou ?ould *all me enn9 so +Gd <eel more lie a personthan a?itness,C enn9 retorted thornil9 CJhere ?as +K h, 9esI ita*ooledright o<< ?hen 'ois reminded her that oll9 ?as al?a9s abrupt lie

that--C and here enn9 paused to grin apologeti*all9 at the girl?iththe mas*uline-looing hair*ut, Cand then ?e all ?ent into thepriatedining room, ?here ita had ordered a per<e*tl9 gorgeous lun*h,?ith aheaenl9 *enterpie*e o< green-striped 9ello? or*hids--Jell, +donGtsuppose 9ouGre interested in ?hat ?e ate and things lie that--C

shehesitated

CJas there an9thing unusual in the *onersation--an9thing lie aLuarrelKC Dundee prompted



Ch, noIC enn9 protested Cothing happened out o< the ordinar9atall--o, ?aitI ita re*eied a letter b9 messenger--or rather anote,

?hen ?e ?ere about hal< through lun*heon--C

There ?as a lo?, strangled-in-the-throat *r9 <rom someone Jhohaduttered it Dundee *ould not be sure, sin*e his e9es had been onhisnoteboo But ?hat had reall9 interrupted enn9 )rain ?as a*rash

)1AT(R 5R

CardonI A?<ull9 sorr9,C )lie 1ammond muttered, as he bent topi* upthe <ragments o< a *olored potter9 ashtra9 ?hi*h he and his

<ian*Pe,oll9 Beale, had been sharing

CDonGt ?orr9--about pi*ing it up,C oll9 *ommanded in herbrusLueoi*e, but Dundee, listening a*utel9, ?as sure o< a er9 slightpausebet?een the t?o parts o< her senten*e

1e glan*ed at the *ouple--the tall, mas*uline-looing girl,loungingdeep in an arm*hair, )lie 1ammond, rather unusuall9 good-looing ?ithhis dar-red hair, bro?n e9es, and a <a*e and bod9 as *ompa*tl9and



s9mmetri*all9 designed as one o< the buildings ?hi*h had beenpointedout to Dundee as the produ*t o< the 9oung ar*hite*tGs genius,no?

resuming his seat upon the arm o< the *hair 1is *hie< *on*ernseemedto be <or another ashtra9, ?hi*h Sergeant Turner, ?ith a grin,produ*ed <rom one o< the man9 little tables ?ith ?hi*h the room?asproided Rather strange that those t?o should be engaged,Dundeemused

C4o on, Miss )rain,C the dete*tie urged, as i< he ?ere impatiento< thedela9 CAbout that note or letter--C

C+t ?as in a blue-gre9 enelope, ?ith printing or engraing in theupperle<t-hand *orner,C enn9 ?ent on, hal< *losing her e9es tore*apture thes*ene in its entiret9 C'ie business <irms use,C she amended C+

*ouldnGt help seeing, sin*e + sat so near ita She seemedstartled--or,?ell ma9be +Gd better sa9 surprised and a little sore, but she toreitopen and read it at a glan*e almost, ?hi*h is ?h9 + sa9 it musthaebeen onl9 a note But ?hile she ?as reading it she <ro?ned, thensmiled,as i< something had amused or--or--C

CShe smiled lie an9 ?oman reading a loe letter,C )arol9n Draeinterrupted positiel9 C+ m9sel< ?as sure that one o< her Hman9Hadmirers had broen an engagement, but had signed himsel<,GJith all m9loe, darling--9our o?n So-and-soIGC



Dundee ?ondered i< een )arol9n DraeGs husband, the *are<ull9groomedand digni<ied 3ohn ) Drae, ban i*e-president, had eer sent

HherHsu*h a note, but he did not let his pen*il slo? do?n, <or enn9?astaling again:

C+ thin 9ou are assuming a little too mu*h, )arol9n But letthatpass At an9 rate, ita didnGt sa9 a ?ord about the *ontents o< thenote

and naturall9 no one ased a Luestion She simpl9 tu*ed it intothepo*et o< her sil summer *oat, ?hi*h ?as draped oer the ba*o< her*hair, and the lun*heon ?ent on Then ?e all droe oer here,and <oundoll9 ?aiting in her o?n *oupe, in the road in <ront o< the houseShetold ita she had rung the bell, but the maid, '9dia, didnGt

ans?er, soshe had ;ust ?aited

Cita didnGt seem surprisedF said she had a e9, i< '9dia hadnGt*omeba* 9et Eou see,C she interrupted hersel< to eplain toDundee,Cita had alread9 told us at lun*heon that Gpoor, darling '9dia,G asshe

*alled her, had had to go in to to?n to get an abs*essed toothetra*ted, and ?as to ?ait in the dentistGs o<<i*e until she <elteLualto driing hersel< home again in itaGs *oupe Ees, ita hadtaen



her in hersel<,C she ans?ered the beginning o< a Luestion <romDundee

CAt ?hat timeKC Dundee Lueried

C+ donGt no? ea*tl9, but ita said sheGd had to dash a?a9 at anungodl9 hour, so that '9dia *ould mae her ten oG*lo* dentistGsappointment, and so that she hersel< *ould get a mani*ure and ashampooand hae her hair dressed, so + imagine she must hae le<t notlaterthan <i<teen or t?ent9 minutes to tenC

C1o? did Mrs Selim get out to Breaa?a9 +nn, i< she le<t her o?n*ar?ith the maidKC

CEou sa? her arrie ?ith 'ois,C enn9 reminded him

Cita had told us all about '9diaGs dentistGs appointment ?hen she?asat m9 house <or dinner Jednesda9 night,C 'ois Dunlap

*ontributed C+o<<ered to *all <or her an9?here she said, and tae her out toBreaa?a9+nn in m9 *ar toda9 + met her, at her suggestion, in the ren*hhatsalon o< the shop ?here she got her shampoo and mani*ure--RedmondGsdepartment storeC

CA large dinner part9, Mrs DunlapKC Dundee ased

Cot large at all 3ust t?ele o< us--the *ro?d here e*ept <orMrSprague, enn9 and 3anetC



CJho ?as Mrs SelimGs dinner partnerKC Dundee ased

CThatGs rightI 1e HisnGtH hereIC 'ois Dunlap *orre*ted hersel<CRalph

1ammond brought her and ?as her dinner partnerC

CThan 9ou o?, enn9 Eou ?ere sa9ing the maid had notreturnedC

Ch, but she hadIC enn9 ans?ered impatientl9 C+< +Gm going tobeinterrupted so mu*h-- Jell, ita rang the bell and '9dia *ame,t9ing on

her apron ita issed her on the *hee that ?asnGt s?ollen, andasedher ?h9 she hadnGt let oll9 in And '9dia said she hadnGt heardthebell, be*ause she had dropped asleep in her room in thebasement--dope9<rom the lo*al anestheti*, 9ou no?,C she eplained to Dundee

C+--see,C Dundee a*no?ledged, and underlined heail9 another

note inhis s*ra?led shorthand

CSo '9dia too our hats and summer *oats and put them in thehall*loset, and then <ollo?ed ita, ?ho ?as *alling to her, on intoitaGsbedroom Je thought she either ?anted to gie dire*tions aboutthe

maings <or the *o*tails and the sand?i*hes, or to *onsole poor'9dia<or the a?<ul pain she had had at the dentistGs, so ?e didnGtintrudeJe made a die <or the bridge tables, <ound our pla*es, and ?ereread9



to pla9 ?hen ita ;oined us ita and 7aren--C

C3ust a minute, enn9 Did an9 o< 9ou, then or later, until MrsMarshall dis*oered the traged9, go into Mrs SelimGs bedroomKC

CThere ?as no need <or us to,C enn9 told him CThereGs alaator9 ?itha dressing-table right behind the stair*ase +, <or one, didnGt gointoitaGs room until a<ter 7aren s*reamedC

There ?as a *horus o< similar denials on the part o< eer9 ?omanpresent At DundeeGs signi<i*ant pressing o< the same Luestion

upon themen, he ?as met ?ith either la*oni* negaties or sharpl9indignant ones

CAll right, enn9 4o ahead, pleaseC

C+ ?as going to tell 9ou ho? ?e ?ere seated <or bridge, i< thatinterests 9ou,C enn9 said, rather tartl9

C+t interests me intensel9,C Dundee assured her, smiling

CThen it ?as this ?a9,C began enn9, tha?ing instantl9 C7arenand ita,)arol9n and + ?ere at this table,C and she pointed to the tablenearerthe hall Clora, oll9, 3anet and 'ois ?ere at the other Je pla9edatthose tables all a<ternoon Je simpl9 pioted at our o?n table

a<ter theend o< ea*h rubber Jhen ita be*ame dumm9--C

Corgie me,C Dundee begged, as he interrupted her again C+Gdlie toas a Luestion Mrs Dunlap, sin*e 9ou ?ere at the other table,



perhaps 9ou ?ill tell me ?hat 9our partner and opponents ?eredoing ;ustbe<ore Mrs Selim be*ame dumm9C

'ois Dunlap pressed her <ingertips into her temples, as i< in ane<<ortto remember *learl9

C+tGs--rather hard to thin o< bridge no?, Mr Dundee,C she said atlast CBut--9es, o< *ourse + rememberI Je had <inished a rubberand hadde*ided there ?ould be no time <or another, sin*e it ?as so near.:%0--C

CThat last rubber, please, Mrs Dunlap,C Dundee suggested CJho?erepartners, and ;ust ?hen ?as it <inishedKC

Clora--C 'ois turned to?ard Mrs Miles, ?ho had sat ?ith herhandstightl9 lo*ed and her great haggard dar e9es roing tensel9<rom one

to another--C9ou and + ?ere partners, ?erenGt ?eK < *ourseIRemember9ou ?ere dumm9 and + pla9ed the handK Eou ?ent out totelephone, didnGt9ouK ThatGs rightI + remember *learl9 no?I lora said she hadtotelephone the house to as ho? her t?o babies--si and <our9ears old,the9 are, Mr Dundee, and the rosiest dumplings-- Jell, an9?a9,

lora?ent to telephone--C

C+n the little <o9er bet?een the main hall and Mrs SelimGs roomKC



CEes, o< *ourse,C 'ois Dunlap ans?ered, but DundeeGs e9es ?ereuponlora Miles, and he sa? her naturall9 sallo? <a*e go 9ello? underits

too-thi* rouge C+ pla9ed the hand and made m9 bid, althoughlora and+ had gone do?n $00 on the hand be<ore,C 'ois *ontinued, ?ith arue<ult?inle o< her pleasant gre9 e9es CJhen the s*ore ?as totted up,+<ound +Gd ?on a bit a<ter all ur ?innings go to the ors9teAlumnaeS*holarship und,C she eplained

CEes, + no?,C Dundee nodded CAnd then--KC

Coll9 ased the other table ho? the9 stood, and ita said, Gnegame togo on this rubber, proided ?e mae itG 7aren ?as dealing the*ardsthen, and ita ?as looing er9 happ9--sheGd been ?inning prett9steadil9, + thin--C

Cardon, Mrs Dunlap 1o? did the pla9ers at 9our table disposeo< themseles then--that is, immediatel9 a<ter 9ou had <inishedpla9ing thelast hand, and Mrs Marshall ?as dealing at the other tableKC

'ois s*re?ed up her <orehead C'et me thin--+ no? ?hat H+Hdid + ?ent

oer to ?at*h the game at the other table, and sta9ed there tillTra*e9--Mr Miles--*ame in <or *o*tails + *anGt tell 9ou ea*tl9?hatthe other three didC



There ?as a strained silen*e Dundee sa? oll9 S*aleGs handtighten*onulsiel9 on )lie 1ammondGs, sa? 3anet Ra9mond <lushs*arlet,

?at*hed a mus*le ;er in lora MilesG other?ise rigid <a*e

Suddenl9 he sprang to his <eet C+ am going to mae ?hat ?illseem anabsurd reLuest,C he said tensel9 C+ am going to as 9ou all--the?omen,+ mean--to tae 9our pla*es at the bridge tables And then--C hepaused<or an instant, his blue e9es hard: C+ ?ant to see the death hand

pla9edea*tl9 as it ?as pla9ed ?hile ita Selim ?as being murderedIC

)1AT(R +N(

CShame on 9ou, Bonnie DundeeIC *ried enn9 )rain, her small<ists*len*hed belligerentl9 CGDeath handG, indeedI Eou tal lie a e?EortabloidI And i< 9ou donGt realie that all o< us hae stood prett9nearl9 as mu*h as ?e *an ?ithout haing to pla9 the hand atbridge--the Her9H hand ?e pla9ed ?hile ita Selim ?as being murderedI--then 9ou

haenGt the de*en*9 and human <eelings +Ge *redited 9ou ?ithIC

A murmur o< indignant approal a**ompanied her tirade andbued on <ora moment a<ter she had <inished, but it *eased abruptl9 asDundee spoe:



CJhoGs *ondu*ting this inestigation, enn9 )rain--9ou or +K Eou?illindl9 let me do it in m9 o?n <ashion, and tr9 to be *ontent ?hen

+ tell9ou that, in m9 humble opinion, ?hat + propose is absolutel9ne*essar9to the solution o< this *aseIC

Bi*ering--Dundee grinned to himsel<--ea*tl9 as i< the9 hadno?n ea*hother al?a9s, had Luarreled and made up ?ith <ier*e intensit9 <or9ears

CReall9, Mr Dundee,C 3udge 1ugo Marshall began pompousl9,embra*ing his9oung ?i<e prote*tingl9, C+ must sa9 that + agree ?ith Miss )rainThisis an outrage, sir--an outrage to all o< us, and parti*ularl9 to this<rail little ?i<e o< mine, alread9 hal<-h9steri*al oer the ordeal shehas enduredC

CTae 9our pla*esIC Dundee ordered *urtl9 A<ter all, there ?as alimitto the *are<ul *ourtes9 one must sho? to 1amiltonGs Cinmost*ir*le o< so*iet9C

enn9 led the ?a9 to the bridge tables, the er9 ?aes o< herbro?n bobseeming to bristle ?ith <utile anger But she obe9ed, Dundee

eultedThe ?a9 to tame this blessed little shre? had been soled b9 oldBillShaespeare *enturies ago



As the ?omen too their pla*es at the t?o tables, arguing a bitamongthemseles, ?ith semi-h9steri*al edges to their oi*es, Dundee?at*hed

the men, but all o< them, ?ith the e*eption o< Deter Sprague--thatt9pi*al son o< Broad?a9, so out o< pla*e in this *ompan9--hadmanaged atleast a <ine sur<a*e *ontrol, their lips tight, their e9es hard,narro?ed and ?at*h<ul Sprague slumped into a a*ated *hairand *losedhis e9es, reealing <inel9-?rinled, 9ello?ish lids

CJhere shall ?e beginKC oll9 Beale demanded brusLuel9CRemember thistable had <inished pla9ing ?hen 7aren began to deal ?hat 9ou*all theGdeath hand,GC she reminded him s*orn<ull9 CAnd lora ?asnGthere atall--she had been dumm9 <or our last hand--C

CAnd had gone out to telephone,C Dundee interrupted CMrs

Miles, ?ill9ou please leae the room, and return ea*tl9 ?hen 9ou didreturn--or asnearl9 so as 9ou *an rememberKC

Dundee ?as sure that Mrs MilesG sallo? <a*e too on a gre9ishtinge asshe staggered to her <eet and ?ound an un*ertain ?a9 to?ard thehall

Tra*e9 Miles sprang to his ?i<eGs assistan*e, but Sergeant Turnertooit upon himsel< to la9 a detaining hand on the too-anioushusbandGsarm Jith no more than the li<ting o< an e9ebro?, Dundee made)aptain



Stra?n understand that lora MilesG moements ?ere to be eptunderstri*t obseration, and the *hie< o< the 1omi*ide SLuad asunobtrusiel9

*one9ed the order to a plain*lothesman loitering interestedl9 inthe?ide door?a9

Co?,C he ?as ans?ering oll9 BealeGs Luestion, C+ should lie theremaining three o< 9ou to behae ea*tl9 as 9ou did ?hen 9ourlast hand?as <inished Did 9ou eep indiidual s*ore, as is *ustomar9 in*ontra*tK--or ?ere 9ou pla9ing au*tionKC

C)ontra*t,C oll9 Beale ans?ered *urtl9 CAnd ?hen ?eGre pla9ingamongourseles lie this, one at ea*h table is usuall9 ele*ted to eeps*ore3anet ?as s*ore-eeper <or us this a<ternoon, but ?e all ?aited,a<terour last hand ?as pla9ed, <or 3anet to gie us the result <or ourtall9

*ardsC

Dundee dre? near the table, pi*ed up the three tall9 *ards--ornamentallittle a<<airs, and rather epensie--glan*ed oer the pointsre*orded,then ased abruptl9:

CJhere is Mrs MilesG tall9K + donGt see it hereC

There ?as no ans?er to be had, so he let the matter drop,temporaril9,though his shorthand noteboo re*eied another deepl9underlined serieso< pothoos



C4o on, please, at both tables,C Dundee *ommanded CEourtable--C henodded to?ard enn9, ?ho ?as alread9 oer her <lare o< temper,

C?illplease sele*t the *ards ea*h held at the *on*lusion o< MrsMarshallGsdealC

Cooh, +Gd neer remember HallH m9 *ards in the ?orld,C )arol9nDrae?ailed C+ no? + had <ie )lubs--A*e, 7ing, ueen--C

CEou had the 3a*, not the ueen, <or + held it m9sel<,C enn9*ontradi*ted her *rispl9

C5ntil this matter o< ?ho held ?hi*h *ards a<ter Mrs MarshallGsdeal issettled, + shall hae to as 9ou all to remain as 9ou are no?,CDundeesaid to the pla9ers seated at the other table

At last it ?as threshed out, largel9 bet?een enn9 )rain and7arenMarshall, the latter proing to hae a better memor9 thanDundee hadepe*ted At last een )arol9n DraeGs Luerulous <ussiness ?assatis<ied, or trampled do?n

Both 3udge Marshall and 3ohn Drae started <or?ard to inspe*tthe *ards,

?hi*h none o< the pla9ers ?as tr9ing to *on*eal, but Dundee?aed themba*

Clease--+ ?ant 9ou men--all o< 9ou, to tae 9our pla*es outside,and



return to this room in the order o< 9our arrial this a<ternoon Tr9toimagine that it is no?--i< + *an trust Mr MilesG apparentl9e*ellent

memor9--ea*tl9 .:2.--C

Crett9 hard to do, *onsidering itGs no? a Luarter past seen andthereGs still no dinner in sight,C Tra*e9 Miles grumbled, thenbrightened: C+ *an *ome right ba* in then--at .:2O, *anGt +KC

That point settled, and the men sent a?a9, to be ?at*hed b9seeralpairs o< apparentl9 indolent poli*e e9es, Dundee turned to the

bridgetable, itaGs leaing o< ?hi*h had proided her murderer ?ith hisopportunit9

CThe *ards are GdealtG,C enn9 reminded him

Co? + ?ant 9ou other three to s*atter ea*tl9 as 9ou did be<ore,CDundee *ommanded, hurr9 and e*itement in his oi*e

'ois Dunlap rose, laid do?n her tall9 *ard, and strolled oer to theremaining table A<ter a momentGs hesitation, oll9 Beale strodemannishl9 out o< the room, straight into the hall Dundee,?at*hing asthe bridge pla9ers earlier that a<ternoon *ertainl9 had not, ?asamaedto see )lie 1ammond be*oning to her <rom the open door o<thesolarium

So )lie 1ammond had arried ahead o< Tra*e9 MilesI 1adsomeho? enteredthe solarium unnoti*ed, and had managed to be*on his <ian*Peto ;oin



him thereI rearrangedK And ?h9 had )lie 1ammond <ailed toenter andgreet his hostess <irstK Moreoer, Hho?H had he entered thesolariumK

But things ?ere happening in the liing room 3anet Ra9mond,<lushing sothat her sunburned <a*e outdid her red hair <or iidness, ?asslo?l9leaing the room also Through a ?indo? opening upon the ?ide<rontpor*h Dundee sa? the girl tae her position against a pillar,then--a

thing she had not done be<ore er9 probabl9--press herhander*hie< toher trembling lips

But the bidding ?as going on, 7aren Marshall piping in her*hildishtreble: CThree spadesIC

Dundee too his pla*e behind her *hair, then silentl9 be*oned to

enn9to shi<t <rom her o?n *hair opposite )arol9n Drae to the *hairitaSelim had le<t to go to her death She nodded understandingl9

CDoubleIC Luaered )arol9n Drae, net on the le<t to the dealer,andmanaged to raise her e9ebro?s meaningl9 to enn9, her partner,?ho had

not 9et *hanged pla*es

enn9, thro?ing hersel< into the spirit o< the thing, s*o?led?arningl9o e*hanging o< illi*it signals <or enn9 )rainI But the instantshe



slipped into ita SelimGs *hair her ?hole <a*e and bod9 too on adi<<erent manner, under?ent almost a ph9si*al *hange She H?asH itaSelim no?I She tu*ed her head, *onsidered her *ards, laughed a

littlebreathless note, then *ried triumphantl9:

CAnd + sa9--H<ie spadesHI Jhat do 9ou thin o< HthatH, partnerKC

Then the girl ?ho ?as giing an amaing imitation o< ita Selim*hangedas suddenl9 into her o?n *hara*ter as she *hanged *hairs

Cita, + donGt thin itGs Luite 1o9le to be so ;ubilant about thestrength o< 9our hand,C she *ommented tartl9 C+ passC

7aren Marshall pretended to stud9 her hand <or a <ro?ninginstant, then,under enn9Gs spell, announ*ed ?ith a prett9 air o< braado:

CSi spadesI Eour raise to <ie maes a little slam obligator9,doesnGt it, itaKC

)arol9n Drae <lushed and looed uneasil9 to?ard enn9, a bit o<b9-pla9?hi*h Dundee *ould see had not <igured in the original game Butshebridled and shi<ted her plump bod9 in her *hair, as she must haedonebe<ore

C+ double a little slamIC she de*lared Then, still a*ting the roleshehad pla9ed in earnest that a<ternoon, she eplained importantl9:C+al?a9s double a little slam on prin*ipleIC



enn9, in the role o< ita, redoubled ?ith an eultant laugh, then,ashersel<, said, CassIC ?ith a murderous glan*e at Mrs Drae

C'etGs see 9our hand, partner,C 7aren Luaered, addressing a?oman ?hohad been dead nearl9 t?o hoursF then she shuddered: Ch, this istoohorribleIC as enn9 )rain again slipped into ita SelimGs *hair andprepared to la9 do?n the dumm9 hand

And it H?asH horrible--een i< itall9 ne*essar9--<or these threeto

hae to go through the <ar*e o< pla9ing a bridge hand ?hile oneo< theoriginal pla9ers ?as l9ing on a marble slab at the morgue, her*old<lesh insensible to the *oronerGs epert ni<e

But Dundee said nothing, <or Tra*e9 Miles ?as alread9 hoering inthedoor?a9, read9 <or his *ue to enter

enn9, or rather Cita,C ?as sa9ing:

C1o?Gs HthisH, 7aren darlingKC as she laid do?n the A*e anddeu*e o< Spades, 7arenGs trumps

C+ hope 9ou remember H9ouH are ulnerable, as ?ell as ?e,C)arol9n

remared in a sorr9 imitation o< her original *o*sureness, as sheopened the pla9 b9 leading the A*e o< )lubs

CAnd ho?Gs HthisH, partnerK A singleton in )lubsIC itaGsimitator



demanded triumphantl9, as she *ontinued to la9 do?n herdumm9 hand,slapping the lone nine o< )lubs do?n beside trumpsF Cand thislittle

*olle*tion o< 1eartsIC as she displa9ed and arranged the 7ing,3a*,eight and <our o< 1eartsF CHandH thisIC as a length o< Diamonds--A*e,3a*, ten, eight, seen and si slithered do?n the gloss9 linen*oer o< the bridge table to?ard 7aren Marshall Co? i< 9ou donGt mae9ourlittle slam, in<ant, donGt dare sa9 + shouldnGt hae ;umped 9ou to

<ieI + <igured 9ou <or a blan or a singleton in Diamonds, andatleast the A*e o< 1earts, or 9ou--*autious as 9ou are--?ouldnGthae madean original three Spade bid ?ithout the A*e 1op to it, darlingIC

CThis is ?here + enter,C Tra*e9 Miles ?hispered to Dundee, and, ata nod<rom the 9oung dete*tie, the pudg9 little blond man strode

;auntil9into the liing room, proud o< himsel< in the role o< a*tor

C1ello, eer9bod9I 1o?Gs tri*sKC he *alled geniall9, but there ?asaLuier o< horror in his oi*e under its blitheness

enn9 ?as Luite pale ?hen she sprang <rom her *hair, but heroi*e

seemed to be itaGs er9 o?n, as she sang out:

C+t H*anGtH be .:%0 alread9I Than heaen +Gm dumm9, and *anrun a?a9and mae m9sel< prett9-prett9 <or 9ou and all the other great bigmen,



Tra*e9 darlingIC

DundeeGs een memor9 registered the slight di<<eren*e in the?ording o<

the greeting as reported b9 this pseudo-ita and the man she?as runningto meet But enn9, as ita, ?as alread9 straightening Tra*e9MilesGne*tie ?ith possessie, *oLuettish <ingers, ?as *oaing, ?ithheadtu*ed alluringl9:

CTra*e9, m9 o?nest lamb, ?onGt 9ou shae up the *o*tails <or

itaK Themaings are all on the sideboard, or + donGt no? m9 pre*ious old'9dia--een i< her poor ;a? does a*he most horribl9C

Then enn9, as ita, ?as on her ?a9, pausing in the door?a9 toblo? aiss <rom her <ingertips to the <atuousl9 grinning but no? LuitepaleTra*e9 Miles She ?as out o< sight <or onl9 an instant, then

reappearedand er9 Luietl9 retra*ed her steps to the bridge table

5nobtrusiel9, Dundee dre? his ?at*h <rom his po*et, palmed itas henoted the ea*t minute, then *ommanded *urtl9: Cn ?ith thegameIC

As Tra*e9 Miles passed the <irst bridge table 'ois Dunlap lined

her armin his, sa9ing in a oi*e she tried to mae ga9 and natural:

C+Gm trailing along, Tra*e9 Simpl9 d9ing <or a nip o< S*ot*hI itaGsis



the real stu<<--?hi*h is more than m9 <uss9 old ete *an get hal<thetimeI--and 9ou no? + loathe *o*tailsC

The t?o passed on into the dining room, the pla9ers s*ar*el9raisingtheir e9es <rom their *ards, ?hi*h the9 held as i< the game ?erereal

Dundee, his ?at*h still in his hand, adan*ed to the bridge tableStrolling <rom pla9er to pla9er he made mental photographs o<ea*h hand,then too his stand behind enn9Gs *hair to obsere the horribl9

<ar*i*al pla9ing o< it oor little enn9I he re<le*ted She hadnGthada *han*e against that dumb-bell a*ross the table <rom her an*9an9oneGs doubling a little slam bid on a hand lie )arol9nDraeGs--oreen *alling an in<ormator9 double in the <irst pla*eI Jh9 hadnGtshebid <our )lubs a<ter 7arenGs original three Spade bid, i< she simpl9?anted to gie her partner in<ormationK ot that she reall9 had

abid--

7arenGs hand trembled as she dre? the lone nine o< )lubs <romthe dumm9,to pla*e beside )arol9nGs A*e, but enn9Gs <ingers ?ere Luitestead9 asshe <ollo?ed ?ith the deu*e o< )lubs, to ?hi*h 7aren added, ?itha tra*e

o< *hara*teristi* un*ertaint9, the eight

CThereGs our booIC )arol9n Drae eulted obedientl9, but she*ast anapologeti* glan*e to?ard enn9 C+< ?e tae one more tri* ?e setthemC



Cat *han*eIC enn9 obligingl9 responded, and Dundee, relieed,ne?that the <ar*i*al game ?ould no? be pla9ed almost ea*tl9, and

?ith thesame *omments, as it had been pla9ed ?hile ita Selim ?asbeingmurdered Thans to enn9 )rainI

Jith a shame<a*ed glan*e up?ard at Dundee, )arol9n Drae thenled thedeu*e o< Diamonds, *ommitting the gross ta*ti*al error o< leading<rom

the ueen 7aren added the 3a* <rom the dumm9, and enn9shruggingl9*ontributed her 7ing, to <ind the tri*, as she had suspe*ted intheoriginal game, trumped b9 the <ie o< Spades, sin*e 7aren had noDiamonds

CSo HthatH settles HusH, )arol9nIC enn9 *ommented a*idl9

1er partner rose to the role she ?as pla9ing CJell, as + said, +al?a9sdouble a little slam on prin*iple Besides, ho? *ould + no? the9?ouldhae a *han*e <or *ross-ru<<ing in HbothH )lubs and DiamondsK +thought9ou ?ould at least hold the A*e o< Diamonds and that 7aren?ould*ertainl9 hae one, as + onl9 had <our--C

enn9 shrugged Ch, ?ellI 'etGs pla9 bridgeIC <or 7aren ?asstaring ather *ards helplessl9 CSorr9, 7arenI + realie a post mortem isusuall9held a<ter the pla9ing o< a hand--not be<oreC



C+--+ guess +Gd better get m9 trumps out,C 7aren--no? almost agenuinea*tress, too--breathed tremulousl9 C+ HdoH ?ish ita ?ere

pla9ing thishand + no? +Gll mu<< it someho?--C

C4ood idIC Dundee *ommented silentl9, and allo?ed himsel< thelibert9o< patting 7aren on her slim shoulder

The girl thre? an up?ard glan*e o< gratitude through mist9 e9es,then

led the si o< Spades, Mrs Drae *ontributing the <our, dumm9taingthe tri* ?ith the A*e, and enn9 relinLuishing the three

C'etGs see--that maes <ie o< Gem in, sin*e + trumped one tri*,C7arensaid, as she rea*hed a*ross the table to lead <rom dumm9

As i< the ?ords ?ere a *ue--?hi*h the9 probabl9 ?ere--3udge

Marshallentered the room at that moment, maing a great e<<ort to be as ;aunt9,debonair, and C9oung <or his ageC as he must hae thought helooed ?henhe made his entran*e ?hen the real game ?as being pla9ed

At his step 7aren li<ted her head and greeted her elderl9 husband?ith a

*urious miture o< *hildlie ;o9 and ?omanl9 tenderness:

C1ullo, darlingI +Gm tr9ing to mae a little slam + ma9 haebeen<oolish to bid, but ita ;umped me <rom three to <ie Spades--C



C'etGs hae a loo, s?eetheart,C the retired ;udge suggestedpompousl9,and Dundee gae ?a9 to mae room <or him behind 7arenGs *hair

But be<ore 3udge Marshall looed at his ?i<eGs *ards he bent andissedher on her <lushed *hee, and 7aren raised a trembling hand tot?ea hisgre9 musta*he Dundee, ?ith upli<ted e9ebro?, Lueried enn9,?ho noddedshortl9, *one9ing the in<ormation that this ?as the ?a9 thes*ene hadreall9 been pla9ed ?hen there ?as no Luestion o< a*ting

C+Gm getting out m9 trumps, darling,C 7aren *on<ided s?eetl9, assherea*hed <or the deu*e o< Spades--the onl9 remaining trump in thedumm9

CJhatGs 9our hurr9, *hildKC her husband ased indulgentl9 C'eadthisICand he pointed to?ard the si o< Diamonds

C+ ?ish 9ouGd got a pun*ture, 1ugo, so 9ou *ouldnGt hae buttedinbe<ore this hand ?as pla9ed,C )arol9n Drae splutteredCRemember thisis a little slam bid, doubled and redoubled--C

C+ should thin H9ouH ?ould lie to <orget that, )arol9nIC enn9*ommented bitingl9 CBut + agree ?ith )arol9n, 1ugo, that 7aren

is Luite*apable o< maing her little slam ?ithout 9our assistan*eC

Clease donGt mind,C 7aren begged C1ugo ;ust ?anted to helpme, be*ause+Gm su*h a dub at bridge--C



CThe <inest little pla9er in to?nIC 3udge Marshall en*ouraged hergallantl9, but ?ith a ;aunt9 ?in at the belligerent enn9

Smiling adoringl9 at him again, 7aren too his suggestion and ledthesi o< Diamonds <rom the dumm9F enn9 *oered it ?ith the nineF7arenru<<ed ?ith the seen o< Spades <rom her o?n hand, and MrsDraelugubriousl9 *ontributed the <our o< Diamonds

C+ *an get m9 trumps out no?, *anGt +, 1ugoKC 7aren ased

depre*atingl9,and at her husbandGs smiling permission, she led the 7ing o<Spades,)arol9n had to gie up the 3a*, ?hi*h she must hae <oolishl9thought?ould tae a tri*F the dumm9 *ontributed the deu*e, and enn9<ollo?ed?ith her o?n last trump--the eight

7aren *ounted on her <ingers, her e9es on the remaining trumpsin herhand, then smiled triumphantl9 up at her husband

CJh9 not simpl9 tell us, 7aren, that the rest o< the trumps are in9ouro?n handKC enn9 suggested *austi*all9

C+--+ didnGt mean to do an9thing ?rong,C 7aren pleaded, as she

led no??ith the ten o< 1earts, ?hi*h dre? in )arol9nGs ueen to *oer--)arol9nmurmuring religiousl9: CAl?a9s *oer an honor ?ith an honor--orshould +



hae pla9ed se*ond hand lo?, enn9KC--topped b9 the 7ing in thedumm9,the tri* being *ompleted b9 enn9Gs three o< 1earts

At that point 3ohn ) Drae mar*hed into the room, strodestraight toDundee, and spoe ?ith *old anger:

C(nough o< this nonsenseI +, <or one, re<use to a*t lie a puppet<or9our amusementI +< 9ou are so itall9 interested in *ontra*tbridge, +should adise 9ou to tae lessons <rom an epert, not <rom three

terri<ied ?omen ?ho are rather poor pla9ers at best + also adise9outo get about the business 9ou are supposed to be here <or--the<indingo< a murdererIC

)1AT(R S+Q

Be<ore Drae had rea*hed his side, his purpose plain upon hisstern,rather as*eti* <eatures, Dundee had taen a hast9 glan*e at the?at*h*upped in his palm and noted the ea*t minute and se*ond o< theinterruption Time outI

Cne moment, Mr Drae,C he said *alml9 C+ Luite agree ?ith9ou--<rom9our ie?point Jhat mine is, 9ou *anGt be epe*ted to no? Butbelieeme ?hen + sa9 that + *onsider it o< ital importan*e to the



inestigation o< the murder o< Mrs Selim that this parti*ularbridgehand, ?ith all its attending remars, the usual bi*ering, and itsinterruptions o< arriing guests <or *o*tails, be pla9ed out,

ea*tl9as it ?as this a<ternoon + thought + had made m9sel< *learbe<ore +< 9ou donGt ?ish me to beliee that H9ou hae something to*on*ealH b9re<using to tae part in a rather grisl9 game--C

C)ertainl9 + hae nothing to *on*ealIC 3ohn ) Drae snortedangril9

CThen please bo? as gra*e<ull9 as possible to ne*essit9,C Dundeeurged?ithout ran*or CAnd ma9 + as, be<ore ?e go on, i< 9ou made9ourentran*e at this time, and the <a*ts o< 9our arrialKC

Drae *onsidered a moment, gna?ing a thin upper lip Beads o<s?eat

stood on his high, narro? <orehead

C+ ?aled oer <rom the )ountr9 )lub, a<ter eighteen holes o< gol<?ith9our HsuperiorH, the distri*t attorne9,C Drae ans?ered, ?ithnast9emphasis C+ le<t the *lubhouse at .:"0, *al*ulating that it ?ouldtaeme about t?ent9 minutes <or the ?al o<--o< about a mileC

Dundee made a mental note to <ind out ea*tl9 ho? <ar <rom thislonel9house in rimrose Meado?s the )ountr9 )lub a*tuall9 ?as, buthis netLuestion ?as along another line:



CEou H?aledH, Mr DraeK--a<ter eighteen holes o< gol< on a?arm da9KC

Drae <lushed CM9 ?i<e had the *ar + had drien out ?ith MrSanderson, but he ?as *alled a?a9 b9 a long distan*e message +lingeredat the *lub <or a ?hile, *hatting and--er--haing a *ool drin ort?o,then + set out a<ootC

Co one o<<ered 9ou a li<tKC Dundee inLuired suael9

Co + presume m9 <ello?-members thought + had m9 *ar ?ithme, and +ased no one <or a li<t, <or + rather <an*ied the idea o< a ?ala*rossthe meado?sC

C+ see,C said Dundee thought<ull9 Co? as to 9our arrial here--C

C+ ?aled in The door had been le<t on the lat*h, as it usuall9 is,

?hen a part9 is on,C Drae eplained *oldl9 CAnd + ?as ;ustenteringthe room ?hen + heard m9 ?i<e mae the remar about *oeringan honor?ith an honor, and then her Luestion o< enn9 as to ?hether sheshouldhae pla9ed se*ond hand lo?C

CSo 9ou entered this time at the *orre*t moment,C said Dundee

Co?, MrDrae, + am going to as 9ou to re-enter the room and do ea*tl9as 9oudid upon 9our arrial at approimatel9 .:%% + am sure 9ou ?ouldnot?illingl9 hamper me--or Hm9 superiorH--in this inestigationC



Drae ?heeled, ungra*iousl9, and returned to the door?a9, ?hileDundeeagain *onsulted his ?at*h, mentall9 subtra*ting the minutes

?hi*h hadbeen ?asted upon this interruption, <rom the time he had maredupon hismemor9 as the moment at ?hi*h Drae had inter<ered But anunder*urrento< septi*ism nagged at his mind Jh9 had Drae *hosen to H?alHK And?h9 had it taen him <rom .:"0 to approimatel9 .:%% to ?al amile or

lessK The aerage ?aler, and espe*iall9 one a**ustomed topla9ing gol<,*ould easil9 hae *oered a mile in <i<teen minutes, instead o< thet?ent9-three minutes Drae had admitted to +< it H?asH amileI Jas it possible that the baner loed ?ild<lo?ersK

Jith head up aggressiel9, Drae ?as undoubtedl9 maing ane<<ort tothro? himsel< into the role--or perhaps into a role *hosen on the

spotI

CJhereGs eer9bod9KC he *alled <rom the door?a9 CAm + earl9KC

CDonGt interrupt, please, dear,C )arol9n Drae ans?ered, her oi*etrembling no?, ?here be<ore it must hae been sharp andLuerulous

Silentl9 Drae too his pla*e behind his ?i<eGs *hair, la9ing a hand

a<<e*tionatel9 upon her shoulder Dundee, ?at*hing *losel9, sa?enn9Gse9es ?iden ?ith something lie sho*ed surprise So Drae H?asHtr9ingto de*eie him, *ounting on the oneness o< this group, his *losest<riendsI



7aren, obiousl9 <lustered, too, rea*hed to the dumm9 <or theA*e o< Diamonds, to ?hi*h enn9 pla9ed the three, 7aren hersel<

dis*arding theten o< )lubs, and Mrs Drae the <ie o< Diamonds

CEou ased no Luestions, Mr DraeKC Dundee interpolated

The baner <lushed again C+--9es, + beliee + did )arol9n--MrsDrae--eplained that 7aren ?as pla9ing <or a little slam inSpades, andthat she had doubled--Gon prin*ipleG,C he added a*idl9--a oi*e

?hi*hMrs Drae must be er9 ?ell a**ustomed to, Dundee surmised

CAnd ?hen + told 9ou that ita had redoubled and it looed as i<she ?asgoing to mae it,C )arol9n Drae ?himpered and shi<ted hershort, stoutbod9 in the little bridge *hair, C9ou said--?h9 not tell the truthK--9ou

said it ?as ;ust lie me and + might as ?ell tae to tatting atbridgepartiesC

CThat ?as said ;oingl9, m9 dear,C Drae retorted, ?ith a *oldnessthattried to be a<<e*tionate ?armth

Cla9 bridgeIC Dundee *ommanded, sure that the approimate

length o< thepreious dispute had no? been taen up, ?hateer retort )arol9nDraehad made Then he *he*ed himsel<, again looing at his ?at*h:CAnd ;ust?hat did 9ou ans?er to 9our husbandGs little ;oe, Mrs DraeKC



C+--+--C The ?oman looed helplessl9 around the table, her slate-*olorede9es reddened ?ith tears, then she plunged re*lessl9, a<ter a

<ear<ulglan*e at DundeeGs impla*able <a*e C+ said that i< it ?as ita he?astaling to, he ?ouldnGt spea in that toneF that she *ould mae allthe<oolish mistaes o< oer-bidding or reoing or doubling that she?antedto, and he ?ouldnGt sa9 a ?ord e*ept to praise her--C

CThen + ma9 as ?ell *on<ess,C Drae said a*idl9, Cthat + ans?eredsubstantiall9 as <ollo?s: Gita is an HintelligentH bridge pla9er as?ell as a *harming ?oman, m9 dearIG o? mae the most o<that little<amil9 ti<<, sir--and be damned to 9ouIC

CDid that end the s*ene, Mrs DraeKC Dundee ased gentl9

C+--+ said something about all the men thining ita ?as per<e*t,C

MrsDrae *on<essed, Cand + *ried a little, but ?e ?ent on ?ith thehandAnd 3ohnn9--Mr Drae ?ent a?a9, ?aling up and do?n theroom, ?aiting<or ita to *ome ba*, + supposeIC

CThen go on ?ith the game,C Dundee ordered

Silentl9 no?, as silentl9 as the real game must hae been pla9ed,be*ause o< the embarrassing s*ene bet?een husband and ?i<e,the sinistergame ?as *arried to its *on*lusion 7aren led the 3a* o< 1earts<rom



the dumm9, enn9 pla9ed her seen, 7aren *ontributed her o?ndeu*e, andMrs Drae <ollo?ed suit ?ith the <ie

Again 7aren led <rom the dumm9, ?ith the <our o< 1earts,<ollo?ed b9enn9Gs nine, taing it ?ith her o?n A*e, Mrs Drae thro?ing o<<the<ie o< )lubs 7aren then led the si o< 1earts, )arol9n Draedis*ardedthe si o< )lubs, dumm9 too the tri* ?ith the eight o< 1earts,andenn9 sloughed the three o< )lubs

Jith a <aint imitation o< the triumph ?ith ?hi*h she had pla9edthe handthe <irst time, 7aren thre? do?n her remaining three trumps

C+Ge made it--a little slamIC she tried to sound er9 triumphantCDoubled and redoubledI 1o? mu*h did +--did ita and + mae,enn9KC

Clent9IC But be<ore putting pen*il to s*ore pad, enn9 *uppedher *hinin her hands and stared at )arol9n Drae C+Gd lie to no?,)arol9n, i< it isnGt one o< 9our most *herished se*rets, H?hatH possessed 9outodouble in the <irst pla*eKC

)arol9n Drae <lushed s*arlet as she protested <eebl9: C+ thought

o< *ourse + *ould tae t?o )lub tri*s ?ith m9 A*e and 7ingThatGs ?h9+ doubled the little slam, o< *ourse And m9 <irst double simpl9meant



that + had one good suit + thought i< 9ou *ould bid at all thatm9t?o doubletons--C

Ch, ?hatGs the useKC enn9 groaned CBut ma9 + remind 9ou thatit is HnotH bridge to lead <rom a ueenK Eou led the deu*e o<Diamonds,?hen o< *ourse the pla9, sin*e 9ou had seen the A*e in thedumm9, ?as tolead 9our ueen, <or*ing the A*e and leaing m9 7ing guarded totae atri* laterC

CBut 7aren didnGt hae an9 Diamonds at all,C )arol9n de<endedhersel<

CA se*ret 9ou ?erenGt in on ?hen 9ou led <rom 9our ueen,Cenn9reminded her Ch, ?ellI JeGll pa9 up and shut upIC and she madeapretense o< totting up the s*ore, ?hile 7aren, ?ho had risen,

stood oerher lie a bird poised <or <light

At that instant Deter Sprague began to adan*e into the room,3anetRa9mond at his side, her <a*e <laming

CBehae ea*tl9 as 9ou did be<oreIC Dundee *ommanded in aharsh ?hisper

o time <or *oddling these people no?I

Deter SpragueGs <a*e too on a 9ello?er tinge, but he obe9ed

C4reetingsIC he *alled in the ;aunt9, oer-*ordial tones o< a man?ho



no?s himsel< not too ?el*ome CJhereGs ita--and eer9bod9K+snGt thatthe *o*tail shaer + hearKC

1aing re*eied no ans?er <rom an9one present, Sprague strolledthroughthe liing room and on into the dining room, 3anet <ollo?ing3udgeMarshall had nodded sti<<l9, and 3ohn ) Drae had muttered thesemblan*e o< a greeting Jere the9 all oerdoing it a bit--thisrea*ting o< their hostilit9 to the sole remaining outsider o< their*ompa*t little groupK Dundee stroed his *hin thought<ull9

But enn9 ?as sa9ing in her abrupt, hus9 oi*e: CAboe the line,"2.0Fbelo? the line O20, maing a total o< "#O0 on this hand, 7arenC

CJonGt ita be gladKC 7aren gasped, then began to runtotteringl9,*alling: CitaI itaIC But in the hall she *ollapsed, shuddering,*r9ingin a *hildGs ?himper: Co, noI +--*anGt--go in there--againIC

+t ?as Dundee ?ho rea*hed her <irst--Dundee and not heroutraged ande*ited old husband

CMrs Marshall--listen, please,C he begged in a lo? oi*e, as heli<tedher so that her head rested against his arm CEou hae beensplendid--?onder<ulI lease beliee that + am trul9 sorr9 to

distress9ou so, and that er9 soon, + hope, 9ou ma9 go home and restC

C+--*anGt bear an9--more,C 7aren ?himpered



+gnoring 3udge MarshallGs blustering, Dundee *ontinued so<tl9:CEoudonGt ?ant the ?rong person to be a**used o< this terrible *rime,do

9ou, Mrs MarshallK < *ourse notI And 9ou HdoH ?ant to helpus all9ou *an to dis*oer ?ho reall9 illed Mrs SelimKC

C+--+ suppose so,C 7aren *on*eded, on a sob

CThen +Gll help 9ou +Gll go to the bedroom ?ith 9ou,C Dundeepromisedher ?ith a sigh o< relie< To the others he spoe sharpl9:

C4o ba* to the ea*t positions in liing room and dining roomandsolarium, that 9ou o**upied ?hen Mrs Marshall ran <rom theroomC

C+ thin 9ouGre oerdoing it, Bonnie,C )aptain Stra?n protestedCBut--sure +Gll see that the9 mind 9ouC

Jith 7aren Marshall *linging to his arm, Dundee ?aled do?n thehall,be9ond the stair*ase to an open door on his le<t--a door guardedb9 alounging plain*lothesman Seated at the dressing-table o< theguestsGlaator9 ?as lora Miles, her sallo? dar <a*e so raaged that shelooed ten 9ears older than ?hen he had <irst seen her an hourbe<ore

CSo 9ou ?ere in here ?hen 9ou heard Mrs Marshall s*ream, MrsMilesKCDundee paused to as



CEes--9esIC she gasped, rising CAnd that horrible man has mademe sta9in here-- < *ourse, the door ?as *losed--be<ore + telephonedhome to

as about m9 *hildren, and then + *ame in here to--to do m9 <a*eoer--C

CEou didnGt hear 9our husband arrieKC

Co,--+ didnGt hear him arrie,C lora Miles <altered, herhander*hie< dabbing at her trembling, oer-rouged lips

C+--see,C Dundee said slo?l9

1e stepped into the little room, leaing 7aren to stand ?eal9againstthe door <rame Jithout a ?ord to Mrs Miles he looed *losel9 atthetop o< the dressing-table and into the small ?astebaset thatstoodbeside it

CEou--9ou *an see that + *old-*reamed m9 <a*e be<ore + put on<reshpo?der and--and rouged,C lora Miles pointed out, ?ith anobious e<<ortat o<<ended dignit9 CA<ter + *ame ba*, ?hile 9ou ?ere maingthosepoor girls pla9 the hand oer again, + ?ent through the samemotions--be*ause 9ou told all o< us to behae ea*tl9 as ?e had

donebe<ore--C

C+--see,C Dundee agreed



rett9 *leer, in spite o< being almost <rightened to death, Dundeesaidto himsel< But he had been ;ust a shade *leerer than she, <or hehad

been in this room ahead o< her, and there had been no balls o<greas9<a*e tissue in the ?astebaset thenI

1e ?as passing out o< the room, o<<ering his arm to 7aren, ?henone o< his underlined notes thrust itsel< upon his memor9:

CMa9 + see 9our bridge tall9, please, Mrs MilesKC

CM9--bridge tall9IC she e*hoed blanl9 CJh9--it must be on thetable?here + ?as pla9ing--C

C+t is not,C Dundee assured her Luietl9 Cerhaps it is in 9ourhandbagKC and he glan*ed at the rather large ra<<ia bag that la9on thetable

She snat*hed it up, slightl9 aerting her bod9 as she looedhastil9through its *ontents

C+t--isnGt here h, + donGt no? H?hereH it isI Jhat does itmatterKC

Jithout repl9ing, Dundee es*orted the trembling little dis*oerer

o< ita SelimGs bod9 into the large ornate bedroom, murmuring ashe did so:

CDonGt be <rightened, Mrs Marshall The bod--+ mean Mrs SelimisnGt



here no? And 9ou shanGt hae to s*ream +Gll gie the signalm9sel<+ ;ust ?ant 9ou to go through the same motions 9ou did be<oreCn ;er9

<eet the girl adan*ed to itaGs no? deserted anit9 dresser

C+--+ ?as *alling to her all the time,C she ?hispered C+ didnGt een?ait to no*, and +--+ began to tell her ho? mu*h ?eGd made o<<thathand, ?hen +--?hen she didnGt ans?er + didnGt tou*h her, but +sa?--+ sa?--C Again she gripped her <a*e ?ith her hands and ?asabout tos*ream

C+ no?,C Dundee assured her gentl9 Then he shouted: CRead9IC

1erded b9 Stra?n, the small *ro?d o< men and ?omen *amerunning into theroom, 3udge Marshall leading the ?a9, enn9 being se*ond in lineenn9 Hse*ondHI Jh9 not lora Miles, ?ho had been nearer to thatroom than an9

o< the others, i< her stor9 ?as true--Dundee ased himsel< But allhad*ro?ded into the room, in*luding oll9 Beale and )lie 1ammond,be<oreMrs Miles *rept in

C+s this the order o< 9our arrialKC Dundee ased them all

enn9, ?ho ?as standing against the ?all, ;ust inside the

door?a9, spoeup, staring at lora ?ith <ro?ning intentness

CEouGre sort o< mied up, arenGt 9ou, loraK + ?as standing righthere



until the ?orst o< it ?as oer--+ didnGt een go near ita, and +no?9ou didnGt pass me + remember that Tra*e9 stepped a?a9 <romthe--bod9,

and *alled 9ou, and 9ou ?erenGt here And then almost the netminute +sa? 9ou *oming to?ard him <rom--<rom--Hoer thereHIC

And enn9 pointed to?ard that *orner o< the room ?hi*h held, ononeangle, the door leading to the por*h, and on its other angle the?indo?<rom ?hi*h, or <rom near ?hi*h ita Selim had been shot

CEouGre l9ing, enn9 )rainI + did no su*h thingIC lora Miles *riedh9steri*all9 C+ *ame running in--?ith--?ith the rest o< 9ou, and +rushed oer there ;ust to see i< + *ould see an9bod9 running a?a9a*rossthe meado?--C

CM9 ?i<e is right, sir,C Tra*e9 Miles added his ?ord aggressiel9 C+sa? ?hat she ?as doing--the most sensible o< all o< us--and + ran

to ;oin her Je looed out o< the ?indo?s, both the side ?indo?sand therear ones, and out onto the por*h But ?e didnGt see an9thingC

Surprisingl9, Dundee abandoned the point

CAnd 9ou ?ere the onl9 one to tou*h her, SpragueKC

C+--beliee so,C Deter Sprague ans?ered in a strained oi*e C+--laidm9 hand on her--her hair, <or an instant, then + pi*ed up herhand tosee i<--i< there ?as an9 pulse le<tC



CEesKC

CShe--she ?as deadC

CAnd her hand--did it <eel *oldKC

Ceither *old nor ?arm--;ust *ool,C Sprague ans?ered in a oi*ethat ?asnearl9 strangled ?ith emotion CShe--she al?a9s had *oolhands--C

CJhat did 9ou do, 3udge MarshallKC Dundee ased abruptl9

C+ too m9 poor little ?i<e a?a9 <rom this room, laid her on a*ou*h inthe liing room, and then telephoned the poli*e Miss )rain stoodat m9elbo?, urging me to hurr9, so that she might ring 9ou--as shedid Eourline ?as bus9, and she lost about <ie minutes be<ore getting9ouC

CAnd the rest o< 9ouKC Dundee ased

Cothing spe*ta*ular, +Gm a<raid, Mr Dundee,C oll9 Bealeans?ered inher brusLue, deep oi*e, no? edged ?ith s*orn

urther Luestioning eli*ited little more, be9ond the <a*t that )lie1ammond had dashed out to *ir*le the house and loo oer thegrounds,

and that 3ohn Drae had been <ull9 o**upied ?ith an h9steri*al?i<e

CBetter let this bun*h go <or the present, hadnGt ?e, bo9KC)aptainStra?n ?hispered uneasil9 Cot a thing on an9 o< them--C



And to )aptain Stra?nGs amaement Dundee thre? open the dooro< itaGsbig *lothes *loset, ;ered on the light, and stooped to the <loor

)1AT(R S(N(

Almost immediatel9 Spe*ial +nestigator Dundee rose <rom his*rou*hingposition on the <loor o< ita SelimGs *loset, and <a*ed the *hie< o<

the1omi*ide SLuad o< 1amiltonGs poli*e <or*e

C+ thin,C he said Luietl9, <or all the e*itement that burned in hisblue e9es, Cthat ?eGd better hae Mrs Miles in <or a <e?LuestionsC

CJhat hae 9ou got there--a dan*e programKC Stra?n ased*uriousl9, but

as Dundee *ontinued to stare silentl9 at the thing he held, theolderman strode to the door and rela9ed the order to a plain*lothesdete*tie

C+ sent <or HMrsH Miles,C Dundee said *oldl9, ?hen husband and?i<eappeared together, loraGs thin, tense shoulders en*ir*led b9Tra*e9Gs

plump arm

C+< 9ouGre going to badger m9 ?i<e <urther, + intend to be present,sirIC Miles retorted, thrusting out his *hest



CNer9 ?ellIC Dundee *on*eded *urtl9 CMrs Miles, ?h9 didnGt 9outell mein the <irst pla*e that 9ou ?ere Hin this roomH ?hen ita Selim?as

shotKC

CBe*ause + ?asnGt--in--in the room,C lora protested, *linging ?ithboththin, big-eined hands to her husbandGs arm

CSir, 9ou hae no proo< o< this absurd a**usation, and + shallpersonall9 tae this matter up--C

C+ hae the best o< proo<,C Dundee said Luietl9, and too his hand<romhis po*et CEou re*ognie this, Mrs MilesK Eou admit that it isthetall9 *ard 9ou used ?hile pla9ing bridge this a<ternoonKC

Co, noI +t isnGt mineIC lora *ried h9steri*all9, *ringing againstherhusband, ?ho began to protest in a oi*e <alsetto ?ith rage

Dundee ignored his splutterings CMa9 + point out that it isidenti*al?ith the other tall9 *ards used at Mrs SelimGs part9 toda9, andthat onits <a*e it bears 9our name, GloraGKC and he politel9 etended the*ard<or her inspe*tion

C+--9es, it HmustH be mine, but + ?as HnotH in this room ?henita?as--?as shotIC

CBut 9ou ?ill admit that 9ou H?ereH in her *lothes *loset at sometime



during the t?ent9 or more minutes that elapsed bet?een 9ourleaing thebridge game, ?hen 9ou be*ame dumm9, and the moment ?hen7aren Marshall

s*reamedKC

As lora Miles said nothing, staring at him ?ith great, terri<iedbla*e9es, Dundee ?ent on relentlessl9: CMrs Miles, ?hen 9ou le<t thebridgegame, 9ou did not intend to telephone 9our house Eou *ame HhereH--intothis roomI--and 9ou la9 in ?ait, hiding in her *loset until ita

Selimappeared, as 9ou ne? she ?ould, sooner or later--C

Co, noI ThatGs a lie--a lie, + tell 9ouIC the ?oman shrilled at himC+ HdidH telephone m9 house, and + taled to 3unior, ?hen the maidput himup to the phone Eou *an as her 9oursel<, i< 9ou donGt belieemeIC

CBut Ha<terH 9ou telephoned, 9ou stole into this room--C

Co, noI +--+ made up m9 <a*e all <resh, ;ust as + told 9ou--C

Dundee did not bother to tell her ho? ?ell he ne? she ?as l9ing,<orsuddenl9 something no*ed on the door o< his mind 1e strodeto the

*loset, sear*hed <or a moment among the multitude o< garmentshangingthere, then emerged ?ith the bro?n sil summer *oat ?hi*h itaSelim had?orn to Breaa?a9 +nn that noon Be<ore the terri<ied ?omanGse9es he



thrust a hand <irst into one deep po*et and then another, <indingnothing e*ept a hander*hie< o< <ine embroidered linen and apair o< bro?n suede gauntlet gloes

CJill 9ou let me hae the note, please, Mrs MilesK The note itare*eied during her lun*heon part9, and ?hi*h she thrust, be<ore9oure9es, into a po*et o< this *oatK +t is in 9our handbag, + amsure,sin*e 9ou hae had no opportunit9, unobsered, to destro9 itC

CJhat ghastl9 nonsense is this, DundeeKC Tra*e9 Miles demanded

<uriousl9

But Dundee again ignored him 1is impla*able e9es held loraMilesGuntil the ?oman broe suddenl9, piteousl9 She <umbled in thera<<ia bag?hi*h had been hanging <rom her arm

C4ood 4od, loraI Jhat does it all meanKC Tra*e9 Miles *ollapsed

lie apri*ed pin balloon CThatGs Hm9H stationer9--one o< m9businessenelopes--C

lora Miles dropped the bag ?hi*h she need no longer ?at*h and*lut*h?ith terror, as she dug her thin <ingers into her husbandGsshoulders

and looed do?n at his puled <a*e, <or she ?as a little tallerthanhe

Corgie me, darlingI h, + ne? 4od ?ould punish me <or being ;ealousI



+ thought H9ouH ?ere ?riting loe letters to--to that ?oman--C

Dundee did not miss the slightest signi<i*an*e o< that s*ene as heretrieed the blue-gre9 enelope she had dropped +t ?as

ins*ribed, in a*urious hand?riting: CMrs Selim, riate Dining Room,Breaa?a9 +nnC

C'etGs see, bo9,C Stra?n said, ?ith respe*t in his harsh oi*e

Dundee ?ithdre? the single sheet o< business stationer9, andobligingl9held it so that the *hie< o< dete*ties *ould read it also

Cita, m9 s?eet,C the note began, ?ithout date-line, Corgie9our badbo9 <or last nightGs ro?, but + HmustH ?arn 9ou again to ?at*h9ourstep EouGe alread9 gone too <ar < *ourse + loe 9ou andunderstand, HbutH--Be good, Bab9, and 9ou ?onGt be sorr9C

The note ?as signed CDe9C

Dundee tapped the note <or a long minute, ?hile Tra*e9 Miles*ontinuedto *onsole his ?i<e A ne? aenue, he thought--perhaps a long,longaenue

CMrs Miles,C he began abruptl9, and the tear-streaed <a*e

turnedto?ard him CEou sa9 9ou thought this letter to Mrs Selim hadbeen?ritten b9 9our husbandKC



CEesIC She gasped C+Gm ;ealous-natured + admit it, and ?hen +sa? oneo< our o?n--+ mean, one o< Tra*e9Gs business enelopes--C

CEou made up 9our mind to steal it and read itKC

CEes, + didI A ?i<e has a right to no? ?hat her husbandGs doing,i< itGs an9thing--lie that--C 1er haggard bla* e9es again imploredherhusband <or <orgieness, be<ore she ?ent on: C+ HdidH slip intoitaGsroom and go into her *loset to see i< she had le<t the letter in her

*oat po*et + *losed the door on m9sel<, thining + *ould <ind thelight *ord, but it ?as *aught in one o< the dresses or something,and ittoo me a long time to <ind it in the dar o< the *loset, but + did<indit at last, and ?as ;ust reading the note--C

CEou HreadH it, een a<ter 9ou sa? that the hand?riting on theenelope

?asnGt 9our husbandGsKC Dundee Lueried in assumed amaement

loraGs thin bod9 sagged C+--+ thought ma9be Tra*e9 haddisguised his1and?riting So + read it, and sa? it ?as <rom Deter--C

CMr Miles, do 9ou no? ho? some o< 9our business stationer9 gotintoSpragueGs handsKC

C1eGs had plent9 o< opportunit9 to <il*h stationer9 or almostan9thinghe ?ants, hanging around m9 o<<i*es, as he does--an idler--C



But Dundee ?as in a hurr9 1e ?heeled <rom the garrulit9 o< thehusbandto the tense terror o< the ?i<e

CMrs Miles, + ?ant 9ou to tell me ea*tl9 ?hat 9ou no?, unless9oupre<er to *onsult a la?9er <irst--C

CSir, i< 9ou are insinuating that Hm9 ?i<eH--C

Ch, let me tell him, Tra*e9,C Mrs Miles *apitulated suddenl9,*ompletel9 C+ H?asH in the *loset ?hen ita ?as illed, +suppose, but

+ didnGt Hno?H she ?as being illedI HBe*ause + ?as l9ing inthere onthe *loset <loor in a dead <aintIHC

Dundee stared at the ?oman in*redulousl9, then suppressed agroan o< almost unbearable disappointment +< lora Miles ?as telling thetruth,here ?ent a-<l9ing his onl9 e9e-?itness, probabl9, or rather, his

onl9ear-?itness

C3ust ?hen did 9ou <aint, Mrs MilesKC he ased, struggling <orpatien*e CBe<ore or a<ter ita *ame into this roomKC

C+ ?as ;ust <inishing the note, ?ith the light on in the *loset, andthedoor shut, ?hen + heard ita *ome into the room + ne? it ?as

itabe*ause she ?as singing one o< those Broad?a9 songs she is--?as--so*ra9 about + ;ered o<< the light, and *rou*hed ?a9 ba* in a*orner



o< the *loset A elet eening ?rap <ell do?n oer m9 head, and+ ?asnearl9 smothering, but + ?as a<raid to tr9 to dislodge it <or <ear ahanger ?ould <all to the <loor and mae an a?<ul *latter And

then--andthen--C She shuddered, and *lung to her husband

CJhat *aused 9ou to <aint, Mrs MilesKC

CSir, m9 ?i<e has heart trouble--C

CJhat did 9ou hear, Mrs MilesKC Dundee persisted

C+ *ouldnGt hear er9 ?ell, all tangled up in the *oat and G?a9ba* inthe *loset, but + did hear a ind o< bang or bump--no, no, not apistolshotI--and be*ause it *ame <rom so near me + thought it ?as itaor'9dia *oming to get something out o< the *loset, and +Gd bedis*oered,so +--+ <ainted--C She dre? a deep breath and ?ent on: CJhen +

*ame to +heard 7aren s*ream, and then people running in-- But all thetime thata?<ul tune ?as going on and on--C

CTuneKC Dundee gasped CDo 9ou mean--ita SelimGs--HsongHKC

lora Miles seemed to be daed b9 DundeeGs ehement Luestion

CJh9, 9es--itaGs o?n tune ThatGs ?hat she *alled it--her o?ntune--C

CBut, Mrs Miles,C Dundee protested, ashamed that his s*alp ?aspri*ling ?ith horror, Cdo 9ou mean to tell me that ita ?as notdead



HthenH--?hen 7aren Marshall s*reamedKC

CDeadKC lora repeated, more be?ildered C< *ourse she ?as, orat

least, the9 all said so-- h, + no? ?hat 9ou meanI And 9oudonGt mean?hat + mean at all--C

CStead9, hone9-girlIC Tra*e9 Miles urged, putting his arm abouthis?i<e C+Gd better tell 9ou, Dundee Jhen ?e all *ame runninginto theroom, there ?as itaGs po?der bo pla9ing its tune oer and

oer--C

ChIC Dundee ?iped his <orehead CEou mean itGs a musi*al boKC

CEes, and pla9s ?hen the lid is o<<,C Tra*e9 ans?ered, obiousl9delighted to hae the limelight again CJell, o< *ourse, sin*e ita*ouldnGt put the lid ba* on, it ?as still pla9ing Jhat ?as thetune, hone9KC he ased his ?i<e tenderl9 C+ haenGt mu*h ear <ormusi*

at best, but at a time lie that--C

C+t ?as pla9ing H3uanitaH,C lora ans?ered ?earil9 Cer andoer--HGita, 3ua-a-n-ita, be m9 o?n <air brideHG,C she Luaeredobligingl9 Cnl9 not the ?ords, o< *ourse, ;ust the tune ThatGs?h9ita bought the bo, + suppose, be*ause it pla9ed her namesaesong--C

CMa9be one o< her beaus gae it to her,C Tra*e9 suggested lightl9,patting his ?i<eGs trembling shoulder CAn9?a9, Dundee, the thingran onand on, until it ran do?n, + suppose + *on<ess + ?anted to put thelid



ba* on, to stop the damned thing, but 1ugo said ?e mustnGttou*han9thing--C

CAnd Luite rightIC Dundee *ut in Co?, Mrs Miles, about thatnoise 9ouheard Did 9ou hear an9one enter the roomK oK Jell,then, did9ou hear ita spea to an9oneK Eou said 9ou thought it might be'9dia,*oming to get something out o< the *losetC

C+ didnGt hear ita spea a ?ord to an9bod9, though she might

hae and +?ouldnGt hae heard, all mu<<led up in that elet eening ?rapand so<ar ba* in the *loset--C

CDid 9ou hear the door onto the por*h--itGs HLuiteH near the*loset--C

CThe door ?as open ?hen ?e *ame in, Dundee,C Tra*e9

interposed C+t musthae been open all the timeC

C+ didnGt hear it open,C Mrs Miles *on<irmed him ?earil9 C+ tell9ou +didnGt hear Han9thingH, e*ept itaGs *oming in singing, then thepo?derbo pla9ing its tune, and that bang or bump + told 9ou aboutC

CAnd ;ust ?here ?as thatKC Dundee persisted

CH+ donGt no?IHC she shrilled, h9steria rising in her oi*e againC+told 9ou it sounded <airl9 near the *loset, as i<--as i< somebod9bumped



into something ThatGs ?hat it ?as lieI ThatGs ea*tl9 ?hat it ?aslie And + ?as so <rightened o< being <ound in the *loset that +<ainted, and didnGt *ome to until 7aren s*reamed--C

She ?as babbling on, but Dundee ?as thining hard A er9*onenient<aint--thatI or the murderer, at leastI But--?h9 not <or Mrs Mileshersel<K dd that she should H<aintHI Jh9 hadnGt she trumped upsomee*use immediatel9 and le<t the *loset as ita ?as entering theroomKJas it, possibl9, be*ause she *ould thin o< nothing but the greatrelie< o< <inding that it ?as Sprague, not her husband, ?ho had

been?riting loe letters to ita SelimK A ;ealous ?oman--

CMiles,C he began abruptl9, C+ thin 9ouGd better tell me ho? 9our?i<ebe*ame so ;ealous o< 9ou and ita Selim that she *ould gethersel< intosu*h a <alse positionC

Tra*e9 Miles reddened, but a gesture o< one o< his sunburnedhandsrestrained his ?i<eGs passionate de<ense o< him C+tGs the truththatlora is ;ealous-natured And + suppose--C he <altered a moment,and hise9es did not meet his ?i<eGs, C--that + lied seeing her a little bit ;ealous o< her old man Sort o< maes a man <eel--?ell, big, 9ouno?

And prett9 important to somebod9IC

CSo 9ou ?ere ;ust haing a bit o< <un ?ith 9our ?i<e, so <ar asMrsSelim ?as *on*ernedKC Dundee ased *oldl9



The blood <lo?ed through the thinning blond hair CJe-el, notea*tl9,Che admitted <ranl9 CEou see, + HdidH tae a shine to ita, and i<+ do

sa9 so m9sel<, she lied me a lot h, nothing seriousI 3ust alittle<lirtation, lie most o< our *ro?d hae ?ith ea*h other--C

CMrs Miles,C Dundee interrupted ?ith sudden harshness, Care 9ou HsureH9ou did not no? that that letter ?as <rom Deter Sprague be<ore9oulooed <or itKC

CSir, i< 9ou are insinuating that Hm9 ?i<eH *arried on a <lirtationor--an--an Ha<<airH ?ith that Sprague inse*t--C Tra*e9 began tobluster

But DundeeGs e9es ?ere on lora Miles, and he sa? that hersallo? sinhad tightened lie gre9ish sil oer her thin *hee bones, andthat her

e9es looed suddenl9 dead and glass9

CEou H<aintedH, 9ou sa9, Mrs Miles,C Dundee ?ent on ineorabl9CJas itbe*ause, b9 an9 *han*e, this note--C and he tapped the sheet?hi*h had*aused so mu*h trouble--Creealed the <a*t that ita Selim andDeterSprague ?ere s?eethearts or--loersKC

+t ?as a battle bet?een those t?o no? Both ignored Tra*e9Gsred-<a*edrage

lora li*ed her dr9 lips Co--no,C she ?hispered CHoIH +t ?as



be*ause + ?as ;ealous o< Tra*e9 and ita--C

CEes, and +Gd gien her *ause to be ;ealous, tooIC Tra*e9 <or*edhimsel<

into the *onersation Cne night, at the )ountr9 )lub, lora sa?me andita stroll o<< the por*h and do?n onto the grounds, and she hada rightto be sore at me ?hen + got ba*, be*ause +Gd *ut a dan*e ?ithher--m9o?n ?i<eI And it ?as onl9 this er9 morning that + made a pointo< driing--out o< m9 ?a9 too--b9 this house to see ita ot that +

meantan9 harm, but + ?as being a little sill9 about her--and she ?asaboutme, tooI ot that +Gd leae m9 ?i<e and babies <or an9 Broad?a9beaut9under the sun--C

Ch, Tra*e9I And 9ou ?erenGt going to tell me--C Jas there HrealH ;ealous9 no?, or ;ust pretense on loraGs partK

CEou understand, donGt 9ou, DundeeKC Tra*e9 demanded, man toman C+ ?as ;ust haing a little <un on the side--nothing serious, mind 9ouIBut o< *ourse + didnGt tell lora eer9 little thing-- o man doesIThereGebeen other girls--other ?omen--C

CTra*e9 isnGt ?orse than the other menIC lora <lamed up C1eGssu*h adarling that all the girls pet him, and spoil him--C

Dundee *ould stand no more o< MilesG *ompla*ent a**eptan*e o<his o?n



raishness And *ertainl9 a girl lie ita Selim ?ould hae beenable tobear pre*ious little o< it )on*eited assI But lora Miles ?asanother matter--and so ?as Deter SpragueI

CEou *an ;oin me in the liing room, i< 9ou lie,C Dundee saidshortl9,as he ?heeled and strode to?ard the door Jas that Lui*,passionateiss bet?een husband and ?i<e being staged <or his bene<itK

Crett9 near through, bo9KC Stra?n, ?ho had been silent andbe?ildered

<or a long time, ased aniousl9, as the t?o dete*ties passedinto thehall

Cot Luite +Ge got to no? seeral things 9et,C Dundeeans?eredabsentl9

But in the liing room his mind ?as ?holl9 upon the business in

hand

C+Gll eep 9ou all no longer than is absolutel9 ne*essar9,C hebegan,and again the *lose-nit group--in ?hi*h onl9 Deter Sprague ?asanalien--gre? taut ?ith suspense Crom the pla9ing out o< theGdeathhandG at bridge,C he ?ent on, using the ob;e*tionable phrase

again er9deliberatel9, C+ <ound that no t?o o< 9ou men arried togetherMr1ammond, 9ou ?ere the <irst to arrie, + belieeKC

C+t seems that + ?asIC )lie 1ammond ans?ered *urtl9



CAnd 9et 9ou did not enter the liing room to greet 9our hostessKC

C+ ?anted a priate ?ord ?ith oll9--Miss Beale--m9 <ian*Pe,C

1ammondeplained brie<l9

C1o? and ?hen did 9ou arrieKC

C+ donGt no? the ea*t time eer thought o< looing at m9?at*h,C1ammond o<<ered C+ *ame out in m9 o?n roadster--that tanStut 9ou ma9

hae noti*ed in the drie?a9 As <or ho? + entered the house, +leapedupon the por*h and opened a door o< the solarium + ?aleda*ross thesolarium, sa? oll9 ;ust <inishing ?ith bridge <or the a<ternoon,andbe*oned to her She ;oined me in the solarium, and ?e sta9edthereuntil 7aren s*reamed ThatGs allC

C1ae 9ou been engaged long, Mr 1ammond--9ou and MissBealeKC Dundeeased, as i< Luite *asuall9

Cearl9 a 9ear,--i< itGs an9 o< 9our business, DundeeIC

CAnd ;ust ?hen had 9ou seen Miss Beale last, be<ore late thisa<ternoonKC Dundee ased

C+ re<use to ans?erIC 1ammond <lared CThat at least is none o<9ourdamned businessIC



C+ beliee + *an ans?er m9 o?n Luestion, Mr 1ammond,C Dundeesaid er9so<tl9

)1AT(R (+41T

CThen ?h9 as meKC 1ammond shrugged, but his e9es <li*eredto?ard oll9Beale

C+ thought perhaps 9ou *ould gie me a little additionalin<ormation,CDundee soothed him CEou see, it happens that + sa? 9ou, MissBeale andanother 9oung man *ome into the Stuart 1ouse dining roomabout hal< pastone toda9, ;ust ?hen + ?as thining o< lun*h <or m9sel<C

CThe m9sterious Gother 9oung manG ?as )lieGs brother, Ralph1ammond,Coll9 Beale *ut in brusLuel9

CEour de*ision to lun*h ?ith 9our <ian*P and his brother ?as Luiteasudden oneKC Dundee ased *ourteousl9 C3ust ?hen did 9ou*hange 9ourmind about Mrs SelimGs lun*heon part9 at Breaa?a9 +nn, Miss

BealeKC

The tall girl thre? up her mannishl9 *ropped, *hestnut headCThere isnothing at all sinister or een Lueer about it, Mr DundeeI + ?ason m9



liing Luarters alread9 *ompleted + gae the *ommission, <or anestimate, at least, to the 1ammond <irm, sin*e the9 had built thehouseoriginall9 <or )rain--enn9Gs <atherC

C+ see,C Dundee agreed CAnd 9ou sent 9our brother, Mr1ammondKC

C1e ?as the natural one to send,C )lie 1ammond retortedCSmall ;obAll he had to do ?as to get together an estimate on additional<urna*elines and radiators, ele*tri* ?iring, plumbing, plastering, et*C

C4o on, Miss Beale,C Dundee dire*ted

CThansIC There ?as sar*asm in her brusLue oi*e CBut thatGsreall9about all + hae to tell Ralph *omplained that he ?as hungr9 and*harged me ?ith giing him too little o< m9 time--the usual thing+pi*ed up itaGs phone, *alled )lie and made the date <or the

three o< us Then + *alled Breaa?a9 +nn, *an*elled the lun*heon part o<thebridge part9 ?ith ita, and Ralph and + droe ba* to 1amiltonC

Dundee studied her strong, *leer, almost plain <a*e <or a longminute)ertainl9 oll9 Beale did not loo lie a liar--but he ?ould haetaen

his oath that she ?as l9ing no? r rather not reealing the?hole truthbehind the a*tual <a*ts o< her moements that da9 or instan*e,*ould asimple plea o< her <uture brother-in-la? mae her do sodis*ourteous a



thing as to brea a lun*heon appointment, espe*iall9 ?hen su*h a*ourse?ould not onl9 disappoint her hostess and her <riends butdisarrange the

seating plan o< a rather <ormal part9K

< *ourse the eplanation ?as obious She had ?anted, <irst, toseeita and remonstrate priatel9 ?ith her <or haing so enslaedRalph1ammond, ?hen he ?as ta*itl9 no?n to CbelongC to enn9)rain--one o< the sa*red *ro?d ailing that, she had <ound Ralph himsel<, and

had notepe*ted to <ind himF had taled ?ith him about ita, and hadLuarreleda bit ?ith him, perhaps, oer his loe-sodden behaior And the*risishad be*ome so a*ute that oll9 had arbitraril9 *alled upon )lie1ammondand then had <or*ed Ralph to a**ompan9 her

CDo 9ou no?, Miss Beale, ?h9 Ralph 1ammond did not eep HhisHengagement ?ith Mrs Selim this a<ternoonK r rather, hispromise toappear <or *o*tails and to be Miss )rainGs partner <or the rest o<theeening--dinner and dan*ing at the )ountr9 )lubKC

C+ do notIC oll9 said *rispl9

C1ammondKC

Ceither do +,C 1ammond retorted angril9



CThen it ?as not to dis*uss Ralph 1ammond and his--a<<airs, that9oube*oned Miss Beale to meet 9ou in the solarium upon 9ourarrialKC

C+t--H?as notHIC

A shade too mu*h anger and emphasis, Dundee de*ided And he?ishedheartil9 that Stra?nGs dete*ties ?ould not dela9 mu*h longer inbringing the missing 9oung man into this alread9 inoledeamination

CEou sa9 that 9ou both ?ere in the solarium <rom the time o< 9ourarrial, 1ammond, until Mrs Marshall s*reamed,C Dundee*ontinued C3ust?hat did 9ou see and hearKC

Dundee ?at*hed their <a*es eenl9, but again the9 ?ere ?ell-bred,epressionless +t ?as oll9 Beale ?ho ans?ered: Caturall9 there?as

not absolute silen*e, but + am a<raid ?e ?ere not listening Je?ererather engrossed in our *onersation Je ?ere seated--near no?indo?s--and + <or one Hsa?H nothing, as ?ell as heard nothingthat +*an re*allC

C1ammondKC

CThat goes <or me, too--absolutel9IC

Abruptl9 abandoning the engaged *ouple, Dundee returned toMiles CEou?ere the se*ond arrial, thenKC



CEes + pared m9 *ar along the *urb in <ront o< the house,CTra*e9ans?ered readil9 CAnd + *ame right on in, and ita ;umped up--C

CEes JeGe had all that t?i*e be<ore,C Dundee interrupted *ruell9Co?, 3udge Marshall--C

Cne o< m9 <riends gae me a li<t <rom to?n,C 3udge Marshallolunteeredpompousl9 C)hap named Sampson Eou ma9 hae heard o< him--<ine <ello?,splendid la?9er Je pla9ed billiards together at the Athleti* )lub,and

?hen + ?as about to *all a tai--m9 ?i<e haing the *ar here--heo<<eredto drop me here on his ?a9 to the )ountr9 )lub -no, + donGtremember the ea*t time, did not *onsult m9 ?at*hC

CEou *ame dire*tl9 <rom the road into the house, 3udge MarshallKC

C)ertainl9, sirIC

CDid 9ou--er, see an9oneKC

CEou mean, sir, did an9one see HmeHKC 3udge Marshall demanded?ithpompous indignation Co, no one, sirI +< m9 ?ord is not goodenough <or9ou, 9ou *an thin ?hat 9ou damned pleaseIC

C+ thin ?e are all getting a little too tired, Mr Dundee,C enn9

)rainsuggested, almost humble in her ?eariness

C+Gm trul9 sorr9,C the 9oung dete*tie apologied CBut + *anGtleae



things lie this Mr Drae, 9ou hae said 9ou ?aled oer <romthe)ountr9 )lub Eou must hae approa*hed the house <rom thedrie?a9 side,

the side o< the house ?hi*h *ontains Mrs SelimGs bedroom +sthatrightKC

CMore or less, e*ept that + sirted the house rather ?idel9 andarried<rom the road, stepping upon the <ront por*h, and ?alingdire*tl9 intothe hall + sa? no one outside or near the house ?hen + arried,C

Draeans?ered, ?ith less than his usual nastiness

CAnd sa? no one running a?a9 a*ross the meado?sKC Dundeepressed

Co one at all,C Drae retorted C+ ?ish to 4od + *ould truth<ull9sa9that + sa? a gunman, ?ith a mas and a smoing reoler,

sulingthrough the ?ild<lo?ers, but the absolute truth is that + sa? nooneC

CThan 9ou, Mr Drae o?--Mr Sprague, Go< e? EorGIC

SpragueGs nerousl9 t?it*hing <a*e reddened darl9 C+--+ too abus +hae no *ar o< m9 o?n + got o<< the bus on Sheridan Road, at the

entran*e to rimrose Meado?sC

C+ see And 9ou ?aled the Luarter o< a mile to this houseKC

SpragueGs hand <umbled ?ith his *raat C+--o< *ourse + didIC



C+ see o?, Miss Ra9mond,C Dundee poun*ed unepe*tedl9, sothat thered-haired girl ?ent er9 ?hite beneath her <re*les, C9ouobsered Mr

Sprague toiling do?n the rutt9 road, hot and ?ear9, but romanti*in thesunsetKC

Mrs Drae let out a nerous giggle, then *lapped her hand oerhermouth

C+--+ ?asnGt looing that ?a9,C 3anet Ra9mond stammered C+--+

;ust ?entout on the por*h <or a breath o< <resh air--C

CAnd 9ou ?ere H*ompletel9H surprised ?hen Mr Sprague *ame?aling upthe <lagstone pathKC Dundee persisted, <or he ne? she ?asl9ing, ne?that she had stationed hersel< there to ?at*h <or Sprague

C+--9es, + ?asI 1e stopped and taled <or a ?hile, be<ore ?e *amein and ;oined Tra*e9 and 'ois in the dining room, ?here Tra*e9 ?asmiing*o*tails But,C she <lared suddenl9, C+ donGt see ?h9 9ou haetobadger all o< us, ?hen it HmustH hae been '9dia, the maid, ?hoilledita, be*ause--C

Ch, 3anetI Shame on 9ouIC enn9 *ried <uriousl9

CJhere is the maid no?, )aptain Stra?nKC Dundee ased C+haenGt seenher 9et--C



CBe*ause sheGs in her room in the basement, Bonnie,C Stra?nans?eredCSort o< <orgot about her, didnGt 9ouKC and he *hu*led at the

9oungermanGs dis*om<iture CBut H+H got her stor9 out o< her, 9ou betIothingto it, though ne o< m9 bo9s--)ollins, it ?as--<ound her in thatshort,dar hall that runs bet?een the Selim ?omanGs bedroom and theit*henSi*erGn a pup she ?asF it ?as a mess Said sheGd--C

C+Gd better hae her up and Luestion her, i< sheGs ?ell enough,CDundeeinterrupted, as ta*t<ull9 as possible C+t seems that she had anabs*essed tooth out toda9, ?ith gas and a lo*al anestheti*o?, MissRa9mond, ?ill 9ou tell me ea*tl9 ?hat 9ou meant b9 sa9ing itmust haebeen '9dia ?ho illed her mistressKC

C+ *ertainl9 ?illIC the red-haired girl *ried de<iantl9 CJhat + *anGtsee is ?h9 Tra*e9 and 'ois and De--Mr Sprague--didnGt thin o<it,too +tGs as plain as--C

CEes, as the nose on m9 <a*e,C Dundee *ut in griml9, but ?ith aglan*eat Stra?n C3ust sti* to the <a*ts, ho?eer, Miss Ra9mond, andma9be ?e

*an all agree ?ith 9ouC

CJell, ?hen Mr Sprague and + ?ent into the dining room, there?ere 'oisand Tra*e9 *utting up lie a *ouple o< *hildren,C 3anet began,



determined to tae her time CJhen the9 sa? us, 'ois said: G4ood'ord,Tra*e9I 4et bus9I r 9our ;ob as bartender ?ill be taen a?a9<rom 9ou,G

and Tra*e9 began to shae *o*tails at the sideboard--C

C4uess +Gd better tell it, 3anet, <or ?hat itGs ?orth,C 'ois *ut inimpatientl9 C+tGs nothing more nor less than that + had to ringt?i*e<or poor '9dia be<ore she *ame,C she eplained to DundeeCTra*e9 is<ull o< original ideas about *o*tails, and ?anted some sort o<bitters

1e ?as going to shout <or '9dia, but + stepped on the buttonunder thedining table, and the poor thing--in the basement nursing her ;a?,probabl9--didnGt hear Tra*e9 and + got to idding, as 3anet sa9s,andhad s*ar*el9 noti*ed ho? long '9dia ?as in *oming + rang again,and she*ame ThatGs allIC

CThat isnGt allIC 3anet denied angril9 C+ ?as there ?hen '9dia*amein, and she ?as looing ?hite as a ghost--e*ept <or her s?ollen ;a?JhatGs more, she a*ted so dumb Tra*e9 had to tell her t?i*e ?hathe?anted And then she said ita didnGt hae an9 o< those bittersan9?a9C

CAn open-and-shut *ase against poor '9diaIC enn9 )rain broe inderisiel9 C4o plu* daisies, 3anetI EouGd be o< a lot more helpIC

C1ereGs 9our maid, Bonnie,C )aptain Stra?n announ*ed lail9, asone o<



his plain*lothesmen appeared in the ar*h bet?een dining andliing room,dragging b9 the hand a ?oman ?ho ?as resisting strangel9, herapron

pressed to her <a*e

CEou are '9diaKC Dundee ased, his oi*e inder than it had been<orman9 minutes Ch, itGs '9dia )arr, )aptain Stra?nK Than 9ouDonGtbe a<raid And +Gm sorr9 about the tooth )ome along in +Gll noteep 9ou longC

The ?omanGs nees seemed about to <ail her, but ?ith a suddene<<ort shereleased the dete*tieGs grip on her ?rist Ner9 tall she ?as, er9bon9in her bla* *otton dress atheti*, too, ?ith her thin, iron-gre9hair,and that apron *on*ealing the le<t hal< o< her <a*e +t ?as odd,Dundeethought, that it ?as not the s?ollen ;a? she *hose to *oer

Mrs Dunlap sprang to her <eet and hurried a*ross the room

CDonGt mind, '9dia, please Eou must not be so sensitie,C shesaidgentl9, and een more gentl9 pulled do?n the *on*ealingapron

C4ood 4odIC Dundee breathed, and Stra?n nodded his

understanding o< the9ounger manGs horror

or the le<t hal< o< '9dia )arrGs <a*e ?as dra?n and pu*ered andridged



almost out o< human semblan*e (en the e9e ?as ruined--amil9 ball?hi*h the pu*ered, hairless e9elid *ould neer *oer again

Coor '9dia is ashamed o< her s*arred <a*e,C 'ois Dunlapeplained, herarm still about the maidGs shoulder CShe isnGt Luite used to it 9et,but none o< HusH mind--C

CEou ?ere burned re*entl9, '9diaKC Dundee ased pit9ingl9

CThatGs m9 businessIC the ?oman astounded him b9 retortingharshl9

C1o? did it happen, '9diaKC Dundee persisted, puled

C+ had an a**ident +t ?as m9 o?n <aultC

'ois DunlapGs ind gre9 e9es *aught and held DundeeGs <irml9 C+thin,i< ita *ould spea to 9ou no?, Mr Dundee, that she ?ould beg9ou not

to tr9 to <or*e '9diaGs *on<iden*e on this sub;e*t ita ?asdeoted to'9dia--?e *an all testi<9 to thatI--and one o< the s?eetest thingsabouther ?as her *onstant e<<ort to prote*t '9dia <rom Luestions and*uriousglan*es +, <or one, no? that ita o<ten begged '9dia to submitto asin-gra<ting operation, regardless o< epense--C

Jhen that ind oi*e *hoed on tears, Dundee abruptl9abandoned hisintention to press the matter <urther



C'9dia, 9our mistress had been married, or ?as still married,?asnGtsheKC

The ?omanGs single, slate-gre9 e9e stared into hisepressionlessl9CShe had GMrsG in <ront o< her name, to use ?hen she <elt lie itThatGs all + no? + neer sa? her husband--i< she had one + onl9?ored <or her about <ie 9earsC

CEou sa9 she used her married name G?hen she <elt lie itGJhat do9ou mean b9 that, '9diaKC

C+ mean she ?as an a*tress, and used her stage name--3uanita'eigh--pronoun*ed lie it ?as spelled plain G'eeGF but she ?asmostl9*alled Gita 'eighGC

CAn a*tress, 9ou sa9KC Dundee repeated thought<ull9 C+ hadheard o< heronl9 as dire*tor o< the ors9te S*hool pla9s Jhat sho?s ?as

she inKC

CShe ?as ?hat the9 *all a spe*ialt9 dan*er in musi*al *omed9,C'9diaans?ered CSometimes she had a real part and sometimes sheonl9 dan*edShe ?as a good hoo<er and a good trouper,C she added, theBroad?a9 terms<alling strangel9 <rom those austere lips CAnd ?hen she ?asnGt in

asho? she sometimes got a ;ob in the pi*tures She neer had areal*han*e in the moies, though, be*ause the9 mostl9 ?anted her todouble



<or the star in long shots, ?here dan*ing *omes into the pi*ture,or in*lose-ups ?here the9 ;ust sho? the legs, 9ou no?C

C+ see,C Dundee agreed grael9 CJhere ?ere 9ou during the<i<teenminutes or so be<ore 9our mistress ?as shot, '9diaKC

C+ ?as do?n in m9 room in the basement,C the ?oman ans?eredCita--+mean Miss ita ?as going to get 3udge Marshall to build me aroom on thetop <loor She hated <or me to hae to sleep in the basement, but

+didnGt mindC

CEou ?ere not reLuired to be on dut9 <or the part9KC

Co,C she ans?ered in her harsh, <lat oi*e C+Gd <ied thesand?i*hesand put out the liLuors <or the *o*tails--set them all out on thedining table and sideboard, and Miss ita had told me to go and

lie do?nas soon as + ?as through So + did + had an abs*essed toothpulled thismorning, and + ?as <eeling si*C

CDid 9ou hear the it*hen bell at allKC Dundee ?ent on

C+ dropped o<< to sleep--that <ool dentist had shot me <ull o<dope--but

+ did hear the bell and + *ome up to ans?er it Mrs Dunlap saidsheGdrung t?i*e, and + said + ?as sorr9--C

C'9dia, did 9ou go into 9our mistressG bedroom be<ore or a<ter 9ouans?ered that bellKC Dundee ased ?ith sudden sharpness



C+ did notI + didnGt een no? she ?as in her bedroom, until + sa?hersitting at her dressing-table--deadC The harsh oi*e hesitated

oer thelast ?ord, but it did not brea

CAnd ;ust ?hen did 9ou <irst see her--a<ter she ?as deadKC

C+ ?ent into the it*hen, thining something else might beneeded Then+ heard a s*ream +t sounded lie it *ome <rom itaGs--Miss itaGsbedroom, and + run along the ba* hall that leads <rom the

it*hen toher bedroom + heard a lot o< people running and 9elling obod9paidan9 attention to meC

CEou *ame into the roomKC

Co, sir, + did not + stopped in the door?a9 + heard Mr Spraguesa9

she ?as dead + ?as si* and di9 an9?a9, and + *ouldnGt moe<or aminute + sort o< slipped do?n to the <loor, and + guess + musthaepassed out And then + ?as si* to m9 stoma*h, and--+ didnGtseem to*are i< + neer moed againC

CJh9, '9diaKC Dundee ased gentl9

CBe*ause she ?as the onl9 <riend + had in the ?orld, and +*ouldnGt haeloed her better i< sheGd been m9 o?n *hild,C '9dia ans?ered Andthe



stern oi*e had broen at last C+ ?as still there in the ba* hall?hena *op *ome and ased me a lot o< Luestions, and then thatman--C she

pointed to )aptain Stra?n, C--said + *ould go and la9 do?n 1ehelped medo?n the basement stairsC

Dundee tapped his teeth ?ith the long pen*il he had ept so bus9thateening--tapped them long and thought<ull9 Then:

C'9dia, did 9ou see an9one--Han9one at allIH--<rom 9our

basement room?indo? be<ore 9ou ans?ered Mrs DunlapGs ringKC

)1AT(R +(

or the <irst time during the di<<i*ult interie? Dundee ?as surethat'9dia )arr ?as l9ing or a <ra*tion o< a se*ond her single e9e?aered,the lid <li*ered, then *ame her harsh, <lat denial:

C+ didnGt see nobod9C

C+ presume 9our basement room has a ?indo? looing out upon

the ba*gardenKC Dundee persisted

CEes, it has, but + didnGt ?aste no time looing out o< it,C '9diaans?ered griml9 C+ ?as la9ing do?n, ?ith an i*e *ap against m9 ;a?C



She HhadH seen someone, Dundee told himsel< But the truth?ould beharder to etra*t <rom that stern, s*ar-t?isted mouth, than the

abs*essed tooth had been

inall9, ?hen her lone e9e did not again ?aer under his stead9gae, hedismissed her, or rather, returned her to )aptain Stra?nGs*ustod9

CJell, 3anet, + hope 9ouGre satis<iedIC enn9 )rain said bitingl9, asshe dashed unashamed tears <rom her bro?n e9es C+< eer a

maid ?asabsolutel9 *ra9 about her mistress--C

C+Gm HnotH satis<iedIC 3anet Ra9mond retorted <uriousl9 CSheGs ;ust thesort that ?ould harbor a grudge <or H9earsH, and then, all hoppedup?ith dope--C

CStop it, 3anetIC 'ois Dunlap *ommanded ?ith a *urtness that setoddl9upon her ind, pleasant <a*e

C'isten here, Dundee,C Tra*e9 Miles broe in, almost humbl9 CM9?i<e isgetting prett9 anious about the iddies The nurse Luit on us9esterda9, and--C

CAnd Hm9H little ?i<e is ?orr9ing hersel< si* oer our bo9--;ustthreemonths old,C 3udge Marshall ;oined the protest C+Gm all <orassisting ;usti*e, sir, haing sered on the ben*h m9sel<, as 9ou doubtlessno?,



but--C

C+Gm all right, reall9, 1ugo,C 7aren Marshall <altered

Clease be patient a little longer,C Dundee urged apologeti*all9A<terall, onl9 one o< these people *ould be guilt9 o< ita SelimGsmurder,and it H?asH beastl9 to hae to hold them lie this HBut one?asguilt9IH

CEou ne? Mrs Selim in e? Eor, SpragueKC he ased, ?hirling

suddenl9upon the man ?ith the Broad?a9 stamp

C+ met ita 'eigh, as + al?a9s heard her *alled, ?hen + ?asassistantdire*tor in the Altamont Studios, out on 'ong +sland,C Spragueans?ered,his bla* e9es tr9ing to meet DundeeGs ?ith an air o< *omplete<ranness CJonder<ul little girl, and a great dan*er S*reened

damned ?ell, too + had hoped to gie her a brea some da9, atsomethingbetter than doubling <or stars ?ho *anGt dan*e But it happenedthatita, ?ho neer <orgot een a *asual <riend, had a *han*e to gieme aleg up hersel<--a *han*e to sho? ?hat + *an reall9 do ?ith a*ameraC

C+ ne? +Gd seen 9our name some?hereIC Dundee e*laimed CSo9ouGre theman the )hamber o< )ommer*e is di*ering ?ith 4oing tomae a moieo< the <ounding, gro?th and beauties o< the *it9 o< 1amilton,arenGt



9ouKC

C+< + get the *ontra*t--9es,C Sprague ans?ered ?ith palpabl9assumed

modest9 CM9 plans, naturall9, *all <or a great deal o< resear*h?or, alarge ependiture o< mone9, a er9 *are<ul sele*tion o< GstarsG--C

C+ see,C Dundee interrupted Then his tone *hanged, be*ame slo?andmena*ing in its terrible emphasis: CHAnd 9ou reall9 *ouldnGt leteen agood <riend lie ita Selim upset those <ine plans o< 9ours, *ould

9ou,SpragueKHC

(en as he put the sinister Luestion, the dete*tie ?as eulting tohimsel<: C'ight at lastI o? + no? ?h9 this Broad?a9 bounder?asre*eied into an e*lusie *ro?d lie thisI (er9 last <emale in thebun*h hoped to be the star o< SpragueGs motion pi*tureIC

C+ donGt no? ?hat 9ouGre driing at, DundeeIC Sprague ?as onhis <eet,his bla* e9es blaing out o< a *hal9 <a*e C+< 9ouGre a**using meo<--o<--C

C< illing ita SelimKC Dundee ased lail9 Ch, noI ot--9et,SpragueI + ?as ;ust remembering a rather puling note o< 9ours+happened to read this a<ternoon That note 9ou sent b9 spe*ial

messenger to Breaa?a9 +nn this noon, 9ou no?C

1e had little interest <or the sudden *rumpling o< Deter Spragueintothe *hair <rom ?hi*h he had risen +nstead, as Dundee dre? thenote <rom



his *oat po*et, his e9es s?ept around the room, noted theundisguisedrelie< on eer9 <a*e, the almost ghoulish satis<a*tion ?ith ?hi*hthat

*lose-nit group o< <riends seied upon an outsider as theprobablemurderer o< that other outsider ?hom the9 had rashl9 taen intotheirsa*red *ir*le (en enn9 )rain, thorn9 little sti*ler <or <air pla9that she ?as, relaed ?ith a tremulous sigh

CEou admit that this note, signed b9 ?hat + tae to be 9our Gpetname,G

?as ?ritten b9 9our hand, SpragueKC Dundee ased matter-o<-<a*tl9, as heetended the sheet o< bluish notepaper

C+--no--9es, + ?rote it,C Sprague <altered CBut it doesnGt mean athing--not a damned thingI 3ust a little priate matter bet?eenita andm9sel<--C

CRather Lueer ?ording <or an unimportant message, Sprague,CDundeeinterrupted C'et me re<resh 9our memor9: Gita, m9 s?eet,GC hebegan toread slo?l9, CGorgie 9our bad bo9 <or last nightGs ro?, but + HmustH?arn 9ou again to ?at*h 9our step EouGe alread9 gone too <ar< *ourse + loe 9ou and understand, HbutH--Be good, Bab9, Hand

9ou ?onGtbe sorr9HI--De9G Jell, SpragueKC

Sprague ?iped his perspiring hands on his hander*hie< C+ no?it



sounds--odd, under the *ir*umstan*es,C he admitted desperatel9,Cbutlisten, Dundee, and +Gll tr9 to mae that damned note as *lear aspossible to a man ?ho doesnGt no? his Broad?a9 Jh9, man,

it isnGteen a loe letterI (er9bod9 on Broad?a9 tals and ?rites toea*h otherlie that, ?ithout meaning a thingI As + told 9ou, ita 'eigh, orMrs Selim, remembered some little indnesses + had done her ontheAltamont lot, ?hen the9 got her to tae up that 'ittle Theater?or MrsDunlap is interested in, and <ound that the )hamber o< )ommer*e

?asinterested in putting 1amilton into the moies, in a big booster*ampaign She ?ired me and + thought it looed good enough todropeer9thing and *ome < *ourse ita and + got to be *loser<riends,but + s?ear to 4od ?e ?ere ;ust <riends--C

CAnd ?hat ?as the G<riendl9G ro? about last night, SpragueKC

CThere ?asnGt a ro?, reall9,C Sprague protested ?ith desperateearnestness C+t ?as merel9 that ita insisted on m9 *asting her<or theheroine o< the moie--a thing + ne? ?ould alienate the ?hole*ro?dthatGs been so ind to us--C

CJh9--sin*e she ?as a pro<essional a*tressKC Dundee demanded

CBe*ause she isnGt a 1amilton girl, o< *ourse, and the )hamber o< )ommer*e ?ants the *ast to be all lo*al talent,C Spragueans?ered,lapsing un*ons*iousl9 into the present tense



CAnd ;ust ?hat ?ere 9ou ?arning her againstKC

C+Gd told her be<ore to ?at*h her step,C Sprague ?ent on moreeasil9

CEou see, Dundee, ita 'eigh is--?as--a <irst-*lass little amp,and +*ould see she ?as pla9ing her *ards ?ith the men here--C heindi*ated<our o< 1amiltonGs most prominent )hamber o< )ommer*emembers ?ith a?ae o< his hand--Cto get them all so *ra9 about her that the9Gdote<or her as the star o< the pi*ture + *ould see her point, all right

+t?ould hae been a big *han*e <or her to sho? ho? she *oulda*t Jell,+ *ould see it ?as dangerous business, and that the girls--C andhesmiled ;eril9 at the tense ?omen in the liing room, C--?eregettingprett9 ?rought up oer the ?a9 ita ?as behaing All e*eptMrs

Dunlap,C he added CHSheH didnGt ?ant to a*t in the pi*ture, anditadidnGt mae an9 head?a9 at all ?ith eter DunlapC

CThans, Mr Sprague,C 'ois Dunlap dra?led, ?ith an amusedLuir o< herbroad mouth

C4et along ?ith the ro?, SpragueIC Dundee *ommanded

impatientl9

CAs + said, it ?asnGt reall9 a ro? + ;ust pleaded ?ith ita lastnightto smooth do?n the girlsG rumpled <eathers, and to mae it *learto them



that she didnGt ?ant the star part in the pi*ture an9 more thanshe?anted an9 other ?omanGs husband or s?eetheart 3ust a<riendl9

?arning--C Sprague dre? a deep breath CAnd thatGs all the notemeant--absolutel9IC

C+ see,C Dundee said Luietl9, then Luoted: HCGBe good, Bab9, and9ou?onGt be sorr9IGCH

CThat meant, o< *ourse,C Sprague too him up eagerl9, Cthat +Gdsee she

got a real part in a regular moie, a<ter +Gd made m9 hit ?ith the1amilton pi*tureC

Ner9 plausible, er9 plausible indeed, Dundee re<le*ted And 9et--

inall9 he li<ted his head and let his e9es dart <rom <a*e to <a*e

CAll o< 9ou hae stated, separatel9 and *olle*tiel9, that 9ouheard no

shot <ired in ita SelimGs bedroom this a<ternoon,C he saidsharpl9 C+sthat trueKC

1e ?as ans?ered b9 ?ear9 nods or sullen a<<irmations

CThen,C he *ontinued, C+ must *on*lude that 9ou are all l9ing orthatita Selim ?as illed ?ith a gun eLuipped ?ith a Maim silen*erC

eer ?as a dete*tie more unprepared <or the e<<e*t o< his?ords upon agroup o< possible suspe*ts than ?as Spe*ial +nestigatorDundee



)1AT(R T(

As Deter Sprague had glibl9 and plausibl9 eplained a?a9 eer9sinisteraspe*t o< the note he had ?ritten to ita Selim that da9, Spe*ial+nestigator Dundee ?as re*alling ?ith erbatim iidness hisargument?ith )aptain Stra?n o< the 1omi*ide SLuad immediatel9 a<ter hisarrial

into the house o< iolent death

1e had said then: CThe person ?ho illed ita Selim, ?as so ?ellno?nto her, and his--or her--presen*e in this room so natural a thingthatshe paid no attention to his or her moements and ?as*on*entrating onthe ;ob o< po?dering her er9 prett9 <a*eC

And he had said <urther, in <a*e o< the disappearan*e o< the gunand ineplanation o< the <a*t that all t?ele o< these people hadimmediatel9protested to Stra?n that the9 had heard no shot:

CThis ?as a premeditated murder, o< *ourse The Maim silen*er--unless

the9 are all l9ing about not hearing a shot--proes that Silen*ersaredamned hard to get hold o<, but people ?ith plent9 o< mone9 *anmanagemost thingsC



And as Deter Sprague had taled on, more and more glibl9,Dundee hadsuddenl9 <ound an eplanation ?hi*h <itted his o?n argument?ith su*h

per<e*tion that he ?ondered, nael9, i< he ?ere perhaps gi<ted?ith*lairo9an*e

< all these t?ele people, ?hom he had Luestioned sorelentlessl9, onl9Deter Sprague *ould easil9 hae *ome into possession o< aMaimsilen*er 1e had dilated proudl9 upon the <a*t that he had been an

assistant dire*tor at the Altamont Studios on 'ong +sland And theAltamont *ompan9 had re*entl9 <inished maing a series o<Cunder?orldCmotion pi*tures--*roo dramas <eaturing gunmen ?ith CrodsCmade eeril9noiseless b9 Maim silen*ers

A bit o< in<ormation he had pi*ed up in a motion pi*turemagaine had

hurtled into the logi*al *hain o< DundeeGs reasoning: assistantdire*tors ?ere in *harge o< CpropsCF it ?as their business to seethatno arti*le needed <or the produ*tion o< a pi*ture ?as lost ormissing?hen the dire*tor needed it Deter Sprague had said that he hadCdropped eer9thingC to *ome ?hen ita Selim ?ired him o< the)hamber o< )ommer*e pro;e*t to mae a CboosterC moie o< 1amilton

erhaps he HhadH dropped eer9thing But--Hhad he hesitatedlong enoughto pi* up a Maim silen*er and a blunt-nosed automati*HK And?as the



Cro?C ?hi*h Sprague had been so glibl9 eplaining a?a9 anan*ient one--aro? so deadl9 that, ?hen ita Selim had re<used to heed his?ritten

?arning, her murder had be*ome ne*essar9K

+t ?as ?ith all this in mind that Bonnie Dundee <lung his*hallenge: C+must *on*lude that 9ou are all l9ing or that ita Selim ?as illed?itha gun eLuipped ?ith a Maim silen*erC

And his e9es, terrible ?ith their *ommand that the ?ealing

should breaand *on<ess, ?ere upon Deter Sprague But Sprague did notbrea 1estared ba* blanl9

+< his e9es and his attention had in*luded the ?hole group it ispossible that ?hat happened ?ould not hae taen Dundee so*ompletel9 b9surprise 1e had paid little attention to a sort o< *on*erted gasp, a

slight moement among the group <arthest <rom him

But not een his intense *on*entration upon Sprague *ouldpreent hishearing 7aren MarshallGs *hildish oi*e, tremulous ?ith <ear:

Co, no, 1ugoI DonGt--donGtIC

1e ?hirled <rom Sprague in time to see 3udge Marshall

disengaging hisarm <rom his 9oung ?i<eGs *linging <ingers, to note, ?ith pro<oundastonishment, that Drae ?as stepping hastil9 aside, so that noteenhis *oat sleee might be brushed b9 the adan*ing <igure o< theelderl9,



retired ;udge And be<ore 3udge Marshall had time to spea,Dundee sa?that a blight had tou*hed, at last, the solid <riendship o< the?omenF

that the9 did not loo at ea*h other ?ith that air o< standingtogether?hateer happened, but that their e9es, not meeting at all,be*amese*ret, *al*ulating, a<raid

CSirIC 3udge Marshall began pompousl9, ?hen he had plantedhimsel< sLuarel9 be<ore the 9oung dete*tie, C+t shall neer be said o< me

that+ hae tried, een in the slightest ?a9, to hamper the *ourse o< ;usti*eC

C+ am sure o< that, 3udge Marshall,C Dundee replied *ourteousl9,but hispulses ?ere hammering Jhat, in 4odGs name, did this long-?inded old<ool hae to tell himK CEou hae some in<ormation 9ou beliee

ma9 bealuable, 3udgeKC

C+ do not beliee it ?ill be at all aluable, sir n the *ontrar9ICtheold man retorted indignantl9 CBut to suppress the <a*t at this ;un*turemight lead to grae misunderstandings later, ?hen it ineitabl9*omes to

light So, sir, it is m9 dut9 to in<orm 9ou that + m9sel< o?n a )oltGs%2, as ?ell as a Maim silen*erC

CJhatIC Dundee e*laimed in*redulousl9 1e ?as *ons*ious that,behindhim, )aptain Stra?n ?as getting to his <eet



CThere is no need to get out 9our hand*u<<s, )aptain Stra?nIC3udgeMarshall ?arned him ma;esti*all9 C+ assure 9ou that + hae not

iolatedthe la? (er9 ;udge, a*tie and retired, is entitled to a permit to*arr9 a ?eapon, and + long ago aailed m9sel< o< the priilegeor am +about to mae a *on<ession o< murderIC

CThere ainGt no permit, so <ar as + no?, 3udge,C Stra?n gro?led,C<oran9 man, ?hoeer he ma9 be--4od AGmight9 himsel< not

e*epted--to tote agun ?ith a silen*er on itC

7aren Marshall ?as *r9ing no?, ?ith the abandoned grie< o< apetted*hild

C4ranted, )aptainIC 3udge Marshall snapped CBut it happens that+ do

not GtoteG m9 gun ?ith the silen*er on it +< it interests 9ou, + ma9as?ell eplain that + *ame b9 the silen*er seeral 9ears ago, ?hen +?ason the ben*h A notorious )hi*ago gunman, on trial <or murderhere, anda*Luitted b9 a <eeble-minded ;ur9, made me a present o< the er9silen*er he had used in illing his i*tim--an ironi* gesture, agesture

o< supreme insolen*e, but an entirel9 sa<e gesture, sin*e he ?ellne?that a man on*e a*Luitted o< a *rime *annot again be pla*ed in ;eopard9<or the same o<<en*eC



CSo 9ou ept the silen*er as a *uriosit9, 3udge MarshallKC Dundeeinterrupted the pompous <lo? o< rhetori*

Cor 9ears--9es,C the e-;udge ans?ered, then his <a*e ?ent

9ello?and er9 old CAs + told 9ou ;ust no?, + ?ill ?ithhold no <a*t thatma9 be o< an9 relean*e ?hateer About t?o months ago--inMar*h,+ beliee--our little group here too up target-shooting as a <adSeeral o< us be*ame Luite epert ?ith reoler and ri<le MrDrae--C and he nodded to?ard the baner, ?ho instantl9 aertedhis e9es,C--*on*eied the idea o< pra*tising the dra?-<rom-the-hip sort o<

reoler-shooting--the ind one sees in Jild Jest moies, 9ouno?--C

C+ thin 9ou might add, 1ugo,C Drae *ut in angril9, Cthat + had inmindthe hope o< being able to prote*t the ban in *ase o< a holdupIC

CAnd the silen*er, 3udge MarshallKC )aptain Stra?n prodded

3udge Marshall <lushed, and <ingered the end o< a ?aedmusta*he CThesilen*er, sir, ?as m9 ?i<eGs idea Eou see, sir, ?e are <ortunateenoughto be the parents o< an in<ant son 1e ?as ;ust a month old ?hen+painted a bullGs e9e upon the bri* ?all o< our ba* garden andinitedour <riends to indulge their <ad as our guests The shooting

a?aenedthe bab9 so <reLuentl9 that 7aren--Mrs Marshall--dug up thesilen*er,?hi*h + had sho?n her as a memento o< m9 *areer on the ben*hTherea<ter



C'ast Sunda9 Tomorro? ?as to mar the end o< theGtournamentG,C the3udge ans?ered

CAnd ?hen did 9ou last see 9our gun and silen*erKC Dundeepersisted

C'ast Sunda9, o< *ourse Jh9, 4ood 'ordIC Marshall e;a*ulated HC+t?as ita hersel< ?ho put the gun a?a9IHC

There ?as a *olle*tie gasp o< relie< (9es *ould meet e9es--no?But it

?as lora Miles ?ho oi*ed the thought or hope that seemedapparent oneer9 <a*e

CThatGs ?h9 + didnGt hear an9one taling ?hen + ?as in the*losetIC she*ried, her oi*e almost h9steri*al in its ehemen*e CHThere?asnGtan9bod9 but ita in the roomIH She *ommitted sui*ideI She stole

poor1ugoGs gun and the silen*er and *ommitted sui*ideIC

CAt a distan*e o< <rom ten to <i<teen <eetKC Dundee ased ?ithill-*on*ealed sar*asm CAnd ?hen she ?as po?dering her <a*eKAnd ;usta<ter entering the room, blithel9 singing a Broad?a9 hitKC

CMa9be the lad9 is right, bo9,C )aptain Stra?n interposed mildl9

C+Geheard o< people rigging up *ontrian*es--C

CJhi*h mae the gun and the silen*er disappear b9 magi*KCDundee



demanded Co, <ols, +Gm a<raid the sui*ide theor9 is no goodo?,3udge Marshall,C and he turned again to the *reator o< the biggestsensation sin*e the inestigation into ita SelimGs death had got

under?a9, C9ou sa9 that Mrs Selim hersel< put the gun a?a9 Jill9oueplain the *ir*umstan*esKC

The elderl9 manGs <a*e had gone 9ello?ish again C)ertainl9I itaSelimand + ?ere the last to leae the ba* garden She ?as parti*ularl9poor

at the sport--neer made a bullGs e9e during the <our or <ieSunda9mornings a<ter 'ois--Mrs Dunlap--dre? her into our set Shebegged <ora <e? more shots, and + sta9ed ?ith her, a<ter the others hadgone intothe house <or--er--re<reshment She <ired the last bullet in the*hambero< the )oltGs, and together ?e ?aled to the house, entering the

littleroom at the rear ?here all sorts o< sports eLuipment are ept--<ishingrods and ta*le, gol< *lubs, bo?s and arro?s, sis, et* She ?as*arr9ing the gun, uns*re?ing the silen*er as ?e ?aled +t is m9habitto eep the pistol and the silen*er in a dra?er in a little *orner*upboard--C

C'o*ed, upKC Dundee ased sharpl9

C5suall9 lo*ed, but not al?a9s, + am a<raid,C 3udge Marshallans?eredrelu*tantl9



CAnd 9ou sa? Mrs Selim pla*e the gun and the silen*er in thedra?erKC

C+--thought + did, but + ?as reall9 not ?at*hing *losel9 As a

matter o< <a*t, + stopped to loo oer a <ishing rod, ?ith a ie? to tr9ing itoutthe <irst good <ishing ?eather--C

CJas Mrs Selim ?earing a *oat or *loaKC Dundee *ut inimpatientl9

CJh9, + donGt no?--C

CEes, she ?as, 1ugoIC 7aren *ried out eagerl9 C+t ?as Luite *hill9lastSunda9 morning RememberK Je all had on *oats or s?eatersita ?ore adar-green leather ;a*et ?ith big po*ets--C

CAnd she le<t in a great hurr9, ?ithout een ?aiting <or a drin,Clora

Miles *ontributed triumphantl9 C+ tell 9ou, she too them a?a9 inherpo*etsC

CEour guess ma9 be *orre*t, Mrs Miles,C Dundee agreed, Cbut +thin ?ehad better not *ome to an9 de<inite *on*lusion until ?e no? that3udgeMarshallGs automati* and silen*er are reall9 missing +s there

an9oneat 9our house no?, 3udge, ?hom 9ou *an as to loo <or itKC

C)ertainl9 The butler Shall + telephone himKC



A**ompanied b9 )aptain Stra?n, the e-;udge ?ent to thetelephone in thelittle <o9er bet?een ita SelimGs bedroom and the main hall And?ithin

<ie minutes he ?as ba*, nodding his head grael9

C1inson tells me that the )oltGs and the silen*er are both missing,sir Ma9 + epress m9 pro<ound regret that m9 possession o<--C

CSome other time, 3udge MarshallIC Dundee interrupted *urtl9,andhurried <rom the room, <ollo?ed b9 Stra?n, ?ho nodded toSergeant

Turner, still lounging ?earil9 in a <ar *orner o< the liing room, tostand guard igilantl9

CJell, Bonnie, hereGs the deil to pa9,C Stra?n gloomed, butDundee made<or the telephone ?ithout ans?ering

1e *alled a number, then *urtl9 demanded: CDr ri*e, pleaseIEes, +

no? heGs bus9 on an autops9 3ust tell him that Dundee, o< thedistri*tattorne9Gs o<<i*e, ?ants to spea to himC

There ?as a long pause, then: C1ello, Dr ri*eI DundeeJhat arethe *aliber and t9pe o< bullet that illed ita SelimK Thansmu*h,do*tor An9thing ne?K ineI Thans againIC

1e hung up the re*eier and <a*ed Stra?n CBullet <rom a )oltGs %2,C hesaid griml9 C+ suggest 9ou send one o< 9our men around to theMarshall



home to pi* up a bullet that ?as shot in their damned targetpra*ti*e+< 9ou send the t?o bullets tonight, registered mail, to Jright, theballisti*s epert in )hi*ago, he *an probabl9 ?ire 9ou tomorro?

morningas to ?hether the same gun ?as used to <ire bothC

CSure, Bonnie,C Stra?n agreed lugubriousl9 C+ ?as going to do ;ustthat Sa9, this to?n is getting to be ?orse than )hi*agoIC

Jhen he re-entered the liing room Dundee began upon the ;udge again,

regardless o< the <a*t that the elderl9 husband ?as murmuring*onsolator9 endearments to his 9oung ?i<e

C3udge Marshall, ho? man9 e9s are there to the *upboarddra?er in ?hi*h9our gun and silen*er ?ere eptKC

C3ust one + hae it ?ith me,C the old man ans?ered ?earil9

CThen ?hen 1inson, 9our butler, looed <or them, he <ound thedra?erunlo*edKC

C1e did + *on<ess to almost *riminal negligen*e--C

CThen so <ar as 9ou no?, the gun and silen*er *ould hae beenremoedat an9 time b9 an9 guest o< 9ours bet?een noon last Sunda9

and--toda9KCDundee ?ent on relentlessl9

C+--suppose so But these people hae been m9 *lose <riends <or9ears,Cthe ;udge ans?ered Cot one o< them, sir--C



CA<ter Mrs SelimGs departure last Sunda9, did 9our other guestsremain<or an9 length o< timeKC

Cor an hour or more, + thin 'ois and eter Dunlap remained <orourt?o oG*lo* Sunda9 dinner, but the others dri<ted a?a9 to ariousengagementsC

CDid an9 o< 9ou return to the room ?here the gun ?as eptKC

C+ *an spea onl9 <or m9sel< and eter--Mr Dunlap,C 3udge

Marshallans?ered, <lushing ?ith indignation CThe t?o o< us ?ent do?n ;ustbe<ore dinner ?as sered + ?anted to sho? him some ne? <lies<or trout*astingC

CEour home is a popular rendeous <or 9our intimates, is it notKC

C+ pride m9sel< that it is, sirIC

CAnd guests run in and out, haing the <reedom o< the pla*eKC

C)ertainl9, sirI And sin*e + am not so stupid as 9ou imagine, +*antell 9ou no? that + understand the dri<t o< 9our Luestions, and*an<orestall them: Ees, all o< these people--Hm9 <riendsHI--hae had

opportunit9 to tae the gun and the silen*er <rom the *upboardsin*e it?as pla*ed there last Sunda9, i< it H?asH pla*ed there b9 MrsSelimBut ma9 + remind 9ou, sir, that opportunit9 alone is not su<<i*ientFthat HmotieH--C



CSin*e Mrs Selim is dead, murdered b9 the ?eapon ?hi*h ?asstolen, ?e*an assume, 3udge Marshall, that someone had motie,C Dundee

remindedhim impla*abl9, <or in his mind there ?as no doubt that theballisti*sepert ?ould bear him out

There ?as a hea9, throbbing silen*e The group that, ?ith thee*eptiono< Deter Sprague, had been so united, so *emented ?ith long-sustained

<riendship, again dissoled isibl9 be<ore DundeeGs e9es intoeleenindiiduals, ea*h shrining into himsel<, mentall9 dra?ing a?a9<rom an9possible *ontamination ?ith a murderer

CEou hae said, 3udge Marshall,C Dundee ?ent on at last, CthatMiss)rain and Mr Sprague ?ere not at 9our home <or target pra*ti*e

Sunda91as either o< them been in 9our home during this past ?eeKC

Cenn9--Miss )rain--spent an eening ?ith m9 ?i<e ?hen + ?as--er--a?a9<rom home on business That ?as last Tuesda9, + beliee--C

CEes, it ?as Tuesda9, 1ugo,C enn9 )rain interrupted <irml9 CAnd7aren

*an ou*h <or the <a*t that + did not go into the gun roomC

CDonGt be sill9, enn9IC )arol9n Drae s*olded, as i< she had longbeenbursting to spea C4iing an alibiI As i< Han9H o< us ?ho ?erepla9ing



bridge ?hile that ?oman ?as being shot HneedsH an9 alibiI But+Glltell 9ou ?hat H+H thin, Mr Dete*tieI + thin ita hersel< stolethe

gun and the silen*er, to ill Deter Sprague ?ith, and that HheHstoleit <rom her and murdered HherHI obod9 else has the slightests*rap o< amotie, and that note he ?rote her ought to be enough to hanghim onIC

Deter Sprague had struggled to his <eet during the ?omanGsh9steri*al

atta*, his <a*e lie *hal, his e9es blaing But Dundee ?aedhimaside peremptoril9

Cne more Luestion, 3udge Marshall,C he said suael9, as i< hehad notheard a ?ord that )arol9n Drae had said CEou ne? Mrs Selimbe<oreher arrial in 1amilton ?ith Mrs Dunlap, + beliee 3ust ?hen

and?here did 9ou meet herKC

)1AT(R ('(N(

CEou are damned impertinent, sirIC 3udge Marshall shouted, theends o< his ?aed gre9 musta*he trembling ?ith anger

CThen + tae it that 9ou do not ?ish to diulge the *ir*umstan*eso<



9our <riendship ?ith Mrs SelimKC Dundee ased

CriendshipIC the old man snorted CEour impli*ations, sir, aredastardl9I + met Mrs Selim, or rather, ita 'eigh, as she ?as

introdu*ed to me, onl9 on*e, seeral 9ears ago ?hen + ?as ine? Eoraturall9--C

C3ust a moment, 3udge Eou sa9 she ?as introdu*ed to 9ou asita 'eighThen 9ou ne? her as an a*tress, + presumeKC

C+ re<use to submit to su*h a *o?ardl9 atta*, sirIC

CHAtta*H, 3udgeKC Dundee repeated ?ith assumed astonishmentC+ merel9thought 9ou might be able to shed a little light on the past o< the?oman ?ho has been murdered here toda9, ?ith a ?eapon 9ouadmit tohaing o?ned 1o?eer--C

The elderl9 e-;udge stared at his tormentor <or a moment as i<

murder?as in his heart 1e gasped t?i*e, then suddenl9 his ?holemanner*hanged

C+ apologie, Dundee Eou must realie ho?--But that is besidethepoint + met ita 'eigh at--er--at a so*ial gathering, arranged b9some

e? Eor <riends o< mine She ?as 9oung, attra*tie, morere<inedthan--er--than the aerage 9oung ?oman in musi*al *omed9aturall9 +told her i< she ?as eer in 1amilton to loo me up And she didC



CAnd be*ause she ?as Gmore re<ined than the aerage 9oung?oman inmusi*al *omed9G--than the aerage *horus girl, to put it simpl9,CDundee

too him up, C9ou *o-operated ?ith Mrs Dunlap to introdu*e herto 9ourmost intimate <riends--in*luding 9our ?i<eKC

Ch, 1ugoI Jh9 didnGt 9ou tell meKC 7aren Marshall ?ailed

CEou see, sir, ?hat 9ou are doingIC 3udge Marshall stormed

C+ am trul9 sorr9 i< + hae distressed 9ou, Mrs Marshall,C Dundee

protested sin*erel9 CBut--C 1e shrugged and turned again to thehusband C+ understand 9ou ?ere Mrs SelimGs landlord Ma9 +as ho?mu*h rent she paidKC

CThe house rents <or one hundred dollars a month--<urnishedC

CAnd did Mrs Selim pa9 her rent promptl9KC Dundee persisted

CSin*e this is the 2$th o< Ma9, sir, Mrs SelimGs rent <or 3une ?asnot9et dueC

ot be<ore poor little 7aren *ould Dundee <or*e himsel< to as?hat,ineitabl9, ?ould hae been his net Luestion--one ?hi*h *ouldnot haebeen eaded, as the e-;udge had eaded the other t?o

Luestions: CH+s itnot true, 3udge Marshal, that ita 'eigh Selim paid 9ou no rent atallKHC But there ?ere other ?a9s to <ind out

C'oo here, DundeeIC a brusLue oi*e *hallenged, and thedete*tie



?hirled to <a*e oll9 Beale +t ?as lie her, he thought ?ith aslightgrin, to address him as one man to another

CEes, Miss BealeKC

C+Gm no <ool, and + donGt thin an9 o< m9 <riends here areeither--though t?o or three o< them hae a*ted lie it toda9,C themas*uline-looing girl stated <latl9 CEouGe made it er9 plainthatan9 one o< us here, e*ept the Sprague man, *ould hae stolen1ugoGs gunand silen*er 1as the gun been <oundKC

C+t has not, Miss BealeC

C 7IC The Lueer girl snapped her <ingers C+ moe that 9ou or)aptain Stra?n sear*h the men <or the ?eapon, and that + sear*htheJomen JaitIC she harshl9 stopped a <lurr9 o< <eminineprotests C+Gllas 9ou, Dundee, to sear*h me <irst 9oursel< + beliee the

te*hni*alterm is G<rising,G isnGt itK Then G<risG me 1ere is m9handbag+ ?ore no *oat, e*ept this--C and she pointed to the ;a*et o< hert?eedsuit

As she strode to?ard the dete*tie )lie 1ammond sprang a<terher ?ith

an oath and a sharp *ommand

CShut up, )lieI +Gm not married to 9ou 9etIC she retorted, but here9es?ere gentler than her oi*e



1is <a*e burning ?ith embarrassment, Dundee ?ent through thetraditionalgestures o< poli*e C<risingC--running his hands rapidl9 do?n thegirlGs

tall, sturd9 bod9, slapping her po*ets And his <ingers <umbledsadl9as he opened her tooled leather handbag

CSatis<iedKC oll9 Beale demanded, and at DundeeGs miserablenod, thegirl <a*ed her <riends: CJell, *ome along, girlsIC

C'ordI Jhat a girlIC Dundee muttered to Stra?n, as the 9oung

Amaonherded lora Miles, enn9 )rain, 7aren Marshall, )arol9n Drae,'oisDunlap and 3anet Ra9mond into the dining room

Silentl9, and almost meel9, as i< shamed into submission b9 oll9BealeGs eample, 3ohn Drae, Tra*e9 Miles, )lie 1ammond,3udgeMarshall, and Deter Sprague permitted )aptain Stra?n and

SergeantTurner to sear*h them

C1o? about the guest *loset and the *arsKC Dundee ased o<Stra?n in alo? oi*e, ?hen the <ruitless, unpleasant tas ?as <inished

C4one oer ?ith a <ine tooth *omb long ago,C Stra?n assured himgloomil9 CAnd not a hiding pla*e in or outside the house that the

bo9shaenGt poed into--in*luding the meado? as <ar as an9one *ouldthro?<rom the bedroom ?indo?C



The ?omen ?ere <iling ba* into the room, some pale, some<lushed, butall able to loo ea*h other in the e9e again

Jith surprising ;auntiness oll9 Beale saluted Dundee Cothingmoredeadl9 on an9 o< us than loraGs triple-de* *ompa*tC

C+ than 9ou ?ith all m9 heart, Miss Beale,C Dundee saidsin*erel9 CAndno? + thin 9ou ma9 all go to 9our homes < *ourse 9ouunderstand,Che interrupted a *horus o< relieed e;a*ulations, Cthat all o< 9ou

?illbe ?anted <or the inLuest, ?hi*h ?ill probabl9 be held Monda9C

CAnd ?hatGs more,C )aptain Stra?n *ut in, to sho? his authorit9,C+ ?antall o< 9ou to hold 9ourseles read9 <or <urther Luestioning at an9timeC

There ?as a stampede <or *oats and hats, a rush <or *ars as i< the

house?ere on <ire, or--Dundee re<le*ted ?r9l9--as i< those he hadtortured?ere a<raid he ?ould *hange his mind Rushing a?a9 ?ith hatredo< him intheir hearts

nl9 enn9 )rain held ba*, maneuering <or a *han*e to spea?ith him

C+ donGt hae to go ?ith the rest, do +KC she begged in a hus9?hisper

CAnd ?h9 notKC Dundee grinned at her, but he ?as glad there ?asno



hatred in HherH e9es

C+Gm Gatta*hedG to the distri*t attorne9Gs o<<i*e, too, arenGt +KC

CRightI And 9ouGe been a bri* this eening + donGt no? ?hat +shouldhae done ?ithout 9ou--C

CJell, + *anGt see that 9ouGe done mu*h H?ithH me,C she gibedCBut +Gdlie to sti* around, i< 9ouGre going to do some real Sherlo*ing--C

C)anGt be done, enn9 + ?ant to sta9 here alone <or a ?hile and

mullthings oer But +Gd lie to hae a long tal ?ith 9ou tomorro?C

C)ome to Sunda9 dinner Mother loes murder m9steries,C shesuggestedThen realiation s?ept oer her 1er bro?n e9es ?idened, <illed?ithterror CStop thining one o< us did itI HStopH, + tell 9ouIC

C)an H9ouH stop, enn9KC he ased gentl9

But she <led <rom him, sobbing ?ildl9 <or the <irst time that long,horrible eening Dundee, ?at*hing <rom the door?a9 o< thelighted hall,sa? the *hau<<eur open the rear door o< the Dunlap limousine,sa? enn9*atapult hersel< into 'ois DunlapGs outstret*hed arms

CJhen did the Dunlap *hau<<eur *all <or his mistressKC he asedStra?n,?ho stood beside him

CAbout ten minutes a<ter 9ou arried,C Stra?n ans?ered ?earil9CSaid



heGd dropped Mrs Dunlap and the Selim ?oman at about 2:%0and had beenordered to return around 6:%0 7no?s nothing, o< *ourseC The*hie<

o< the 1omi*ide SLuad dre? a deep breath CJell, Bonnie, he hasnothingon me +n spite o< all the palaer + donGt no? nothing eitherC

CEou need some dinner, *hie<,C Dundee suggested CAnd the bo9smust begetting hungr9, tooC

CSomebod9Gs got to guard the house, + suppose,C Stra?n

gloomed Cotthat it ?ill do an9 good And ?hat about that maid--that )arr?omanKShall + lo* her up on general prin*iplesKC

Co + ?ant to hae another tal ?ith her, and i< she bu*s atspendingthe night here, +Gll tae her to the Rhodes 1ouse, and turn heroer to

m9 old <riend, Mother Rhodes Je haenGt an9thing on her, 9ouno?C

Co, nor on an9bod9 else, e*ept that old <ool, Marshall, and ?e*anGt*lap him into ;ail--9et,C Stra?n agreed, his gre9 e9es t?inling

CTae 9our *re? on in, *hie<,C Dundee urged C+Gll sti* tillmidnight

or longer, i< 9ou donGt mind Eou *an arrange to hae a *ouple o<thebo9s to reliee me about t?ele And b9 the ?a9, ?ill 9outelephoneme the minute 9ou get hold o< Ralph 1ammondKC



CJell, ma9be not so Lui* as all that,C Stra?n dra?led C+Gll taethe<irst *ra* at HthatH bab9, m9 ladI ot so dumb, am +, Bonnie-bo9K

ot so dumbI + *an put t?o and t?o together as ?ell as the netone--prett9 near as ?ell as the distri*t attorne9Gs ne? Gspe*ialinestigatorIGC

/ / / / /

Although Bonnie Dundee had taen )aptain Stra?nGs none-too-gentleparting gibe ?ith good gra*e, it ?as a er9 thought<ul 9oung

dete*tie?ho set about lo*ing himsel< into the house in ?hi*h ita Selimhadbeen murdered

)aptain Stra?n had beaten him to the ;ob that eening b9 atleast t?ent9minutes 1ad the old dete*tie stumbled upon something ?hi*hDundee, <or

all his spe*ta*ular thoroughness, had oerlooed or had beenunable toturn up be*ause Stra?n had suppressed itK

Jhat i< Stra?nGs parting boast ?as not an idle one, and he reall9hadCthe goodsC on Ralph 1ammondK 1ad the old *hie< been laughingup hissleee during the <ar*e o< pla9ing out the Cdeath hand at bridge,C

andduring the mer*iless Luiing o< old 3udge MarshallK

But DundeeGs natie *ommon sense Lui*l9 routed his gloom)aptain



Stra?n ?as too dire*t in his methods, too a<raid o< antagoniingtheri*h and in<luential, to hae permitted een a Cspe*ialinestigatorC

<rom the distri*t attorne9Gs o<<i*e to torment those t?ele peopleneedlessl9 robabl9 Stra?n, <eeling a little hurt at haing pla9edse*ond <iddle all eening, had simpl9 ?anted to get him <ussed,?as eenno? *hu*ling oer the e<<e*t o< his parting boast

Mu*h *heered, Dundee lingered in the dining room ?hose?indo?s he hadmade <ast against an9 intrusion, so that his tas o< guarding the

housealone might be minimied As he glan*ed at the table, ?ith itssilerplates heaped ?ith tin9 sand?i*hes o< *aiar and an*ho9 paste,itslittle siler boats o< olies and s?eet pi*les, he dis*oered thathe?as er9 hungr9 indeed

As he mun*hed the dr9ing sand?i*hes and sipped *harged?ater--thearious liLuors <or *o*tails on the sideboard o<<ered a temptation?hi*h he sternl9 resisted--DundeeGs thought boiled and *hurned,thro?ingup pi*ture a<ter pi*ture o< ita Selim, alie and then deadF o<enn9)rain--bless herI--helping him at the epense o< her lo9alt9 toli<e-long <riendsF o< lora Miles, l9ing desperatel9 and then

*on<essingto a shame<ul the<tF o< 7aren Marshall gallantl9 pla9ing out theCdeathhandCF o< 7arenGs stri*en, *hildish <a*e ?hen she learned thather



elderl9 husband had met and at least <lirted ?ith ita Selim at a*horusgirlsG part9

At that last pi*ture Dundee <lushed so that his sin pri*led 1adhemade a <ool o< himsel<, or ?as he right in his suspi*ion that 1ugoMarshall had gien ita Selim this *ottage rent <reeK That pointshouldbe easil9 settled, at an9 rate

Rue<ull9 re<le*ting that appetiers do not mae a satis<a*tor9meal he

betoo himsel< to the dead ?omanGs bedroom Ees, his memor9hadsered him ?ell 1ere ?as her des--a small <eminine a<<air o<rose?ood,set in the *orner o< the room nearest the por*h door

The des ?as not lo*ed As Dundee let do?n the slanting lid,?hosepolish ?as marred ?ith man9 <ingerprints, he sa? that its

*ontents ?erein a hopeless ;umble So Stra?n had beaten him to this, tooI 1adhe<ound an all-important *lue in one o< the man9 little pigeon-holesanddra?ers, stu<<ing it into his po*et ;ust be<ore a bumptious 9oungCspe*ial inestigatorC had arriedK

But DundeeGs returning gloom ?as instantl9 dispelled 1ere ?as

itaGs*he*boo, a <lutter o< <illed-in stubs atta*hed to onl9 oneremainingblan *he* So ita had baned ?ith the 1amilton ationalBan, o<



?hi*h 3ohn ) Drae--?ho apparentl9 hated his <attish, <uss9?i<e--?as ai*e presidentI Another tin9 <a*t to be tu*ed a?a9 She hadopened

her a**ount, apparentl9, on April 2", the da9 o< her arrial in1amilton--the guest and emplo9e o< Mrs eter Dunlap robabl9'oisDunlap had adan*ed her the t?o hundred dollars as <irstpa9ment <or herprospe*tie ?or in organiing a 'ittle Theater moement in1amilton

Turning rapidl9 through stubs, Dundee stopped t?i*e, ?histling

so<tl9?ith amaement ea*h time or on April 28th, and again on Ma9.th, itaSelim had deposited .,000I Jhere had she got the mone9KJere the sumstrans<ers <rom a**ounts in e? Eor bansK But it ?as hardl9liel9 thata little Broad?a9 hanger-on had had so mu*h hard *ash ondeposit Then

?here had she got it--.,000 at a time, here in 1amiltonK

HBla*mailIH

1astil9 but thoroughl9 Dundee ran through the remaining *he*stubs Ho re*ord at all o< a *he* <or rent made out to 3udge1ugoMarshallIH

But there ?as a stub that interested him )he* o "O--ita hadspenther mone9 laishl9--?as <illed in as <ollo?s, in itaGs prett9ba*hand:

o "O #,000



HMa9 #, "#%0H To HTrust DeptH or H+nestmentH

1ad 3ohn ) Drae, ?ho as i*e president in *harge o< trusts andinestments had doubtless handled the *he*, ?ondered at all?here the#,000 had *ome <romK

ne other reelation *ame out o< the t?ent9-three <illed-in stubsneer9 Monda9 ita Selim had dra?n a *he* <or $0 to her maid,'9dia

)arr

Again Dundee ?histled ort9 dollars a ?ee ?as, he ?agered tohimsel<,more mone9 than an9 other maid in 1amilton ?as lu*9 enoughto re*eieIita in a ne? light--an oer-generous itaI r--H?as ita hersel<pa9ingbla*mail on a small s*aleHK

1e rea*hed into a pigeon-hole ?hose *ontents--a thi* pa*et o<unusedenelopes--had not been disturbed b9 Stra?n, and ?as about toremoe anenelope in ?hi*h to pla*e the all-important *he*boo, ?hen henoti*edsomething slightl9 pe*uliar An enelope in the middle o< thepa*et

looed rather thi*er than an empt9 *ase should

HBut it ?as not empt9H And a*ross the <a*e o< the epensie,*ream-*olored linen paper ?as ?ritten, in that same prett9, er9legibleba*hand:



T B( ((D + )AS( ME D(AT1 --3A5+TA '(+41 S('+M

1is heart hammering pain<ull9, and his <ingers trembling, Dundeedre?out the t?o *lose-?ritten sheets o< *ream9 notepaper A<ter all,?ho hadbetter right than he to open itK Jas he not the representatie o<thedistri*t attorne9K And he hadnGt damaged the enelope +t hadopeneder9 easil9 indeed--its <lap had 9ielded instantl9 to his thumb-

nail

JaitI +t had been Htoo eas9HI Be<ore un<olding the letter or?hateer it?as, Dundee eamined the <lap o< the enelope EesI 1e ?asnot the<irst to open it sin*e its original sealing 4od grant he hadnGtdestro9ed an9 tell-tale <ingerprints in his *riminal haste to learnan9

se*ret that ita Selim had re*orded hereI erhaps ita hersel<hadunsealed the letter to mae an addition or a *orre*tionK

Jell, ?hateer damage had been done ?as done no?, and hemight as ?ellread

ie minutes later Bonnie Dundee ?as ra*ing through the dining

room,pushing open the s?inging door that led into the butlerGs pantr9Jherethe deil ?ere the steps that led do?n into the basementK Apre*ious



minute ?as lost be<ore he dis*oered that a door in the dar ba*hallopened upon the steep stairs

An unshaded light, dangling <rom the *eiling, reealed the <urna*einone *orner o< the big basement, laundr9 eLuipment in another1e plungedon That must be the maidGs room, behind that *losed door4odIJhat i< she had es*aped, ?hile he had been mun*hing *aiar andan*ho9sand?i*hesK A <ine guard heGd beenI And it ?asnGt as i< he

hadnGt hada dim suspi*ion o< the truth

The nob turned easil9 1e <lung open the door And then hisneesnearl9 gae ?a9, so tremendous ?as his relie< or there, on thethinmattress o< a ?hite-enameled iron bed, la9 the ?oman he soardentl9

desired to see

She had apparentl9 been asleep, and the noise he had made hadstartledher into pani*9 ?ae<ulness +nstin*tiel9 her hand <le? to theruinedle<t side o< her <a*e--that hideous epanse o< liid <lesh, s*arredandridged so that it did not loo human

CJhat--K Jho--KC '9dia )arr gasped, struggling to a sittingposition,onl9 to <all ba* as nausea s?ept oer her



CEou remember meKC Dundee panted CDundee o< the distri*tattorne9Gso<<i*e + Luestioned 9ou this a<ternoon--C

The ?oman *losed the single e9e that had es*aped the a**ident?hi*h hadmarred her <a*e so hideousl9 C+--remember +Gm si* + told9ouall + no?--C

C'9dia, ?h9 didnGt 9ou tell me that it ?as 9our mistress, MrsSelim ?hodid--thatKC Dundee demanded sternl9, pointing to the ?omanGs

sightlessle<t e9e and ruined *hee

)1AT(R TJ('N(

'9dia )arr, still *lothed in the bla* *otton dress and ?hite aprono< her maidGs uni<orm, struggled to a sitting position on the edge o<herbasement room bed

Co, noI ThatGs a lieI +t ?as an a**ident, + tell 9ou--m9 o?n<aultI Jho dared to sa9 ita--Miss ita--did itKC

CBetter lie do?n, '9dia,C Dundee suggested gentl9 C+ ?onGt ?ant9ou<ainting EouGe had a hard da9 ?ith the abs*essed tooth, thedope thedentist gae 9ou, and--other things + donGt ?onder that 9ou lost9our



head, ?ent a little *ra9, perhaps--C

The dete*tieGs sinister impli*ation seemed to mae noimpression at all

upon the ?oman ?ith the s*arred <a*e

C+ ased 9ou--C she gasped, her single e9e glaring at him, C?hodaredsa9 ita burned meKC

C+t ?as ita hersel< ?ho told me,C Dundee ans?ered so<tl9 C3usta <e?minutes agoC

C1ol9 MotherIC the maid gasped, and *rossed hersel< daedl9

'et her thin the dead ?oman had appeared to him in a ision,Dundeetold himsel< erhaps her *on<ession ?ould *ome the Lui*er--

The maid began to ro* her gaunt bod9, her arms *rossed oerher <lat

*hest CM9 poor little girlI (en in death she thins o< me, sheGssorr9-- She sent me a message, didnGt sheK Tell meI She ?asal?a9str9ing to *om<ort me, sirI The poor little thing *ouldnGt beliee +Gd<orgien her as soon as she done it-- Tell meIC

CEes,C Dundee agreed, his e9es ?at*hing her eenl9 CShe sent9ou amessage--o< a sort But + *anGt gie it to 9ou until 9ou hae told

meall about the--a**ident in ?hi*h 9ou ?ere burnedC

C+Gll tell,C '9dia promised eagerl9 4one ?ere the harshness andse*retieness ?ith ?hi*h she had met his earlier LuestioningCEou



see, sir, + loed Miss ita--+ *alled her ita, i< 9ou donGt mind, sir+ loed her lie she ?as m9 o?n *hild And she ?as <ond o< me,too,<onder o< me than o< an9bod9 in the ?orld, she used to tell me,

?hensome man had hurt her bad And there ?as al?a9s some manor other,she ?as so s?eet and so prett9 Jell, + <ound her in thebathroom oneda9, ;ust read9 to drin *arboli* a*id, to ill her poor little sel<--C

CJhen ?as that, '9diaKC Dundee interrupted

C+t ?as in ebruar9--Sunda9, the ninth o< ebruar9,C '9dia ?enton,still ro*ing in an agon9 o< grie< C+ tried to tae the glass out o< her hands SheGd poured a lot o< the stu<< out o< the bottle Eousee, she ?as alread9 in a <it o< h9steri*s, or sheGd neer haetried toill hersel< +t ?as m9 o?n <ault, tr9ing to tae the glass a?a9<romher, lie + did--C

CShe <lung the a*id into 9our <a*eKC Dundee ased, shuddering

CShe didnGt no? ?hat she ?as doingIC the ?oman *ried, glaringat himCearl9 ?ent out o< her mind, the9 told me at the hospital,be*ausesheGd hurt me A priate room in the best hospital in e? Eorshe

got <or me, trained nurses night and da9, and so man9 do*tors<ussingaround me + ?anted to <ire the ?hole out<it and sae some o< m9poorgirlGs mone9--?hi*h + donGt no? till this da9 ho? she got holdo<--C



Dundee let her sob and ro* her arms <or a ?hile unmolested +nebruar9ita Selim had had to borro? mone9 to pa9 do*tor and hospital

bills 1adborro?ed it or Cgold-dugC it And in Ma9 she had been ri*henough tohae #,000 to inestI

C'9dia, 9ou neer <orgae ita Selim <or ruining 9our li<e as ?ellas9our <a*eIC Dundee *harged her suddenl9

CEouGre a liarIC she *ried passionatel9 C+ no? ?hat + <elt +tGs Hm9H<a*e and Hm9H li<e, ainGt itK + tell 9ou + didnGt een bear a grudgeagainst her--the poor little thingI (ating her heart out ?ith sorro?<or?hat sheGd done--till the er9 da9 o< her deathI Al?a9s tr9ing tomaeit up to me--pa9ing me too mu*h mone9 <or the hand<ul o< ?or +had to

do, ?hat ?ith her eating out nearl9 all the time and thro?inga?a9sto*ings the minute the9 got a run in Gem-- orgie herK +Gdhae*ra?led <rom here to e? Eor on m9 hands and nees <or ita'eighIC

Dundee studied her horribl9 s*arred <a*e, made more horribleno? b9 ?hat

looed lie genuine grie<

C'9dia, ?ho ?as the man oer ?hom 9our mistress ?anted to*ommitsui*ideKC



The single, tear-reddened e9e glared at him suspi*iousl9, thenbe*ame?ar9 C+ donGt no?C

CJas it Deter Sprague, '9diaKC

CSpragueKC She spat the name out *ontemptuousl9 CoI ShedidnGt no?him then, e*ept to spea to at the moing pi*ture studioC

CJhen did he be*ome her--loer, '9diaKC Dundee ased *asuall9

The ?oman sti<<ened, be*ame mena*ingl9 hostile CJho sa9s he

?as herloerK Eou *anGt tri* me, Mr Dete*tieI +Gd *ut m9 tongue outbe<ore+Gd let 9ou mae me sa9 one ?ord against m9 poor girlIC

Dundee shrugged 1e ne? a stone ?all ?hen he ran up againstone

C'9dia,C he began again, a<ter a thought<ul pause, C+ hae proo<

thatita Selim ?as sure 9ou had neer <orgien her <or the in;ur9 shedid9ouC 1is <ingers tou*hed the letter in his po*et--that in*redibleC'ast Jill and TestamentC ?hi*h ita had ?ritten the da9 be<oreshe ?asmurdered

CAnd thatGs another lieIC the ?oman *ried, shaing ?ith anger

Shestruggled to her <eet, stood s?a9ing diil9 a moment C)omeupstairs?ith me to her room, and +Gll sho? H9ouH some proo< that + had<orgien



herI )ome along, + tell 9ouI Tr9ing to mae me sa9 H+H illedm9poor girl, ?hen +Gd hae died <or her--)ome on, + tell 9ouIC

And Dundee, ?ondering, beginning to doubt his o?n *oni*tion alittle--that *oni*tion ?hi*h had sprung <ull-gro?n out o< itaGsstrange, in<ormal ?ill, and ?hi*h had seemed to eplaineer9thing--<ollo?ed '9dia )arr <rom her basement room to thebedroom in?hi*h ita had been murdered

CSee thisIC and '9dia )arr snat*hed up the po?der bo <rom thedressing-table 1er long, bon9 <ingers busied themseles ?ith

<ranti*haste, and suddenl9, into the silen*e o< the room *ame the tinleo< musi* CH+H bought her this--<or a present, out o< m9 o?n mone9,soon as+ got out o< the hospitalIC the maidGs oi*e shrilled, oer the slo?,s?eet, tinl9 notes C+tGs pla9ing her name song--H3uanitaH +t?aspla9ing that song ?hen she died + stood there in the door?a9

and heardit--C and she pointed to?ard the door leading <rom itaGs roominto theba* hall CShe loed it and used it all the time, be*ause + gae ittoher And HthisHIC

She set the musi*al po?der bo upon the dressing-table andrushed a*ross

the room to one o< the seeral lamps that Dundee had noti*ed onhis<irst sure9 o< the room +t ?as the largest and gaudiest o< the*olle*tion--a huge bo?l o< <iligreed brone, set ?ith innumerablestones, as large as marbles, or larger Red, 9ello? and greenstones



that must hae *ast a strange radian*e oer the prett9 head thathadbeen ?ont to lie ;ust beneath it, on the heaped la*e pillo?s o< the*haise lounge, Dundee re<le*ted

As i< '9dia had read his thoughts, she ;ered at the little *hain?hi*hhung <rom the bottom o< the big brone bo?l against the hea9metalstandard

C+ gae her this--saed up <or it out o< m9 o?n mone9IC she ?asassuring

him ?ith saage triumph in proing her point CAnd she loed itso shebrought it ?ith us ?hen ?e *ame <rom e? Eor--+t ?onGt lightI +t?as?oring all right last night, be*ause m9 poor little girl ?as l9ingthere, looing so prett9 under the *olored lights--C

Jith strong t?ists o< her big hands '9dia began to uns*re? the<iligreed

brone bo?l As she li<ted it o<< she e*laimed blanl9:

CJh9, looI The light bulbGs--HbroeHIC

But Dundee had alread9 seen--not onl9 the broen light bulb buttheeplanation o< the Lueer noise that lora Miles had des*ribedh9steri*all9 oer and oer, as Ca bang or a bumpC The *haiselounge

stood bet?een the t?o ?indo?s that opened upon the drie Andat thehead o< it stood the big lamp, ;ust a <e? in*hes <rom the ?all andonl9a <oot <rom the ?indo? <rame upon ?hi*h Dr ri*e had pen*illedthe



point to indi*ate the end o< the imaginar9 line along ?hi*h theshot?hi*h illed ita 'eigh Selim had traeled

The Cbang or bumpC ?hi*h lora Miles had heard had been madeb9 theno*ing o< the big lamp against the ?all 5ndoubtedl9 the one?ho hadbumped into the lamp ?as itaGs murderer--or murderess--in<ranti* hasteto mae an es*ape

HAnd that meant that the murderer had <led to?ard the ba* hall,

notthrough the ?indo? in <ront o< ?hi*h he had stood, not throughthe doorleading onto the <ront por*hH A little progress, at leastI

But '9dia ?as not through proing that she had <orgien hermistressShe ?as snat*hing things <rom itaGs *lothes *loset--

CSee these mules ?ith ostri*h <eathersK--+ gie Gem to m9 girlIAndthis bed ;a*etK + embroidered the <lo?ers on it ?ith m9 o?nhands--C

Through her <lood o< proo< Dundee heard the ?hir o< a *arGsengine, thenthe loud banging o< a *arGs door Running <ootsteps on the<lagstone

path Dundee rea*hed the <ront door ;ust as the bell pealedshrill9

C1ello, DundeeI A?<ull9 glad + *aught 9ou be<ore 9ou le<t +spoor'9dia still hereKC



C)ome in, Mr Miles,C Dundee inited, sear*hing ?ith a puled<ro?n theround, blond <a*e o< Tra*e9 Miles CEes, '9dia is still here

Jh9KC

CThen +Gm in lu*, and + thin '9dia is, too--poor old girlI Eousee,Dundee,C Miles began to eplain, as he too o<< his ne? stra? hatto mophis perspiring <orehead, Cthe *ro?d all ganged up ?hen ourarious *arsrea*hed Sheridan Road, and b9 unanimous ote ?e ele*ted to

drie oer tothe )ountr9 )lub <or a meal in one o< the small priate diningrooms--toes*ape the Luestions o< the morbidl9 *urious, 9ou no?--C

CEes Jhat about itKC Dundee interrupted impatientl9

CJell, + admit ?e ?ere all prett9 hungr9, in spite o<--?ell, o<*ourse

?e ?ere all <ond o< ita, but--C

CJhat about '9diaKC Dundee *ut him short

C+Gm getting to it, old bo9,C Miles protested, ?ith the in;ured air o< an unappre*iated small bo9 CJhile ?e ?ere ?aiting <or our <ood,somebod9 said, Goor '9diaI JhatGs going to be*ome o< HherHKGAndsomebod9 else said that it ?as harder on her--itaGs death, +

mean--thanon an9bod9 else, be*ause ita ?as all she had in the ?orld, andthen'ois--'ois is al?a9s pra*ti*al, 9ou no?--ran to telephone oli*e1eadLuarters, to see ?hat had been done ?ith '9dia, and to seei< it



?ould be all right <or lora and me to tae her home ?ith us--C

C3ust a minute, MilesI Jhom did Mrs Dunlap tal to at1eadLuartersKC

CJh9, )aptain Stra?n, o< *ourse,C Miles ans?ered C1e told 'oisthat 9ou?ere still out here, Luestioning '9dia again, and that it ?as allright?ith him, ?hateer 9ou de*ided So as soon as + had <inishedeating, +droe oer--C

C+s Mrs Miles ?ith 9ouKC Dundee interrupted again

CJell, no,C Miles admitted un*om<ortabl9 CEou see, the girls <elt alittle sLueamish about *oming ba*, een on an errand o<mer*9--C

Dundee grinned 1e had no doubt that lora Miles hademphati*all9re<used the possibilit9 o< another gruelling interie?

CJh9 do 9ou and Mrs Miles ?ant to tae '9dia home ?ith 9ouKChe ased

CTo gie her a home and a ;ob,C Miles ans?ered promptl9 CSheno?s us,?eGre used to her poor old s*arred <a*e, and the 9oungsters, TamandBett9, are not a bit a<raid o< her +n <a*t, Bett9 pats that s*arred

*hee and sa9s, oer and oer, Goo '9dd9I oo '9dd9I Bett9Goes'9dd9IG and Tam--heGs T A Miles, ;unior, 9ou no?, and ?e *allhimTam, <rom the initials, be*ause he hates being *alled 3unior andt?o



Tra*e9Gs are a nuisan*e--C

C+ gather that 9ou ?ant to hire '9dia as a nurse <or the *hildren,CDundee interrupted the <ond <atherGs erbose eplanations

CRight, old manI Eou see, our nurse le<t us 9esterda9--C

CJait here, Miles +Gll spea to '9dia SheGs in Mrs SelimGsbedroom B9 the ?a9, Miles, sin*e 9ou and 9our ?i<e are indenoughto ?ant to tae '9dia in and gie her a home and a ;ob, + thin itonl9<air to tell 9ou that it is highl9 improbable that '9dia )arr ?ill tae

an9 ;ob at allC

CEou mean--KC Miles gasped, his rudd9 <a*e turning pale C+ sa9,Dundee,itGs absurd to thin <or a minute that good old <aith<ul '9dia had athing to do ?ith itaGs murder--C

C+ rather thin 9ouGre right about that, Miles,C Dundeeinterrupted

Co? ?ill 9ou e*use meKC

1e <ound '9dia ?here he had le<t her--in her dead mistressGbedroom Thetall, gaunt ?oman ?as *rou*hing beside the *haise longue, herarmsoutstret*hed to en*ir*le a little pile o< the gi<ts she *laimed tohaegien ita Selim to proe that she bore no grudge <or the terrible

in;ur9 her mistress had done her At DundeeGs entran*e she <lungup herhead, and the dete*tie sa? that tears ?ere streaming <rom boththesightless e9e and the unharmed one



Taing his seat on the *haise longue, Dundee eplained gentl9butbrie<l9 the o<<er ?hi*h Tra*e9 Miles had ;ust made

CThe9 ?ant--HmeHKC she gasped broenl9, in*redulousl9, and her<ingers<altered to her horrible *hee C+ didnGt thin an9bod9 but m9poor girl?ould hae me around--C

C+t is true the9 ?ant 9ou,C Dundee assured her CBut 9ou donGthae totae a ;ob no? unless 9ou ?ish, '9diaC

CJhat do 9ou meanKC the maid demanded harshl9, her good e9ehardening?ith suspi*ion

C'9dia,C the 9oung dete*tie began slo?l9, and almost pra9ingthat he?as doing the right thing, C?hen + ?oe 9ou up tonight toLuestion 9ou,

+ said that ita hersel< had ;ust told me that it ?as she ?ho hadburned9our <a*e And 9ou ased me i< she had also gien 9ou amessage--C

CEes, sirIC the maid interrupted ?ith piti<ul eagerness CAnd 9ouGlltell me no?K Eou donGt still thin H+H illed her, do 9ouKC

Co, + donGt thin 9ou illed 9our mistress, '9dia, but + thin, i<

9ou?ould, 9ou *ould help me <ind out ?ho did,C Dundee assured hergrael9Co, ?aitIC and he dre? <rom his po*et the enelope ins*ribed:CTo Bepened +n )ase o< M9 Death--3uanita 'eigh SelimC



CDo 9ou re*ognie this hand?riting, '9diaKC

C+t ?as ?rote b9 her o?n hand,C the maid ans?ered, her oi*e

hus9 ?ithtears C+s that the message, sirKC

CEou neer sa? it be<oreKC Dundee ased sharpl9

Co, noI + didnGt no? m9 poor girl ?as thining about death,C'9diamoaned C+ thought she ?as happ9 here She ?as ti*led topie*es oer

being taen up b9 all them so*iet9 people, and on the go da9 andnight----C

C'9dia, this is Mrs SelimGs last ?ill and testament,C Dundeeinterrupted, ?ithdra?ing the sheets slo?l9 and un<olding themC+t ?as?ritten 9esterda9, and it begins:

CG7no?ing that an9 o< us ma9 die an9 time, and that +, 3uanita

'eighSelim, hae good *ause to <ear that m9 o?n li<e hangs b9 athread thatma9 brea an9 minute--GC

CJhat did m9 poor girl meanKC '9dia )arr *ried out ehementl9CShe?asnGt si*, eer--C

C+ thin, '9dia, that she <eared ea*tl9 ?hat happened toda9--murderIAnd + ?ant 9ou to tell me ?ho it ?as she <eared Hor + beliee9ouno?IHC



The ?oman shran <rom him, until she ?as sitting on her leanhaun*hes,her hands <lattening against her *hees or a long minute shedid not

attempt to ans?er 1er right e9e ?idened enormousl9, thenslo?l9 gre? asepressionless as the mil9 le<t ball

C+--donGt--no?,C she said dull9 Then, ?ith ehement emphasis:CH+donGt no?IH +< + did, +Gd ill him ?ith m9 o?n handsIC

Dundee had no *hoi*e but to tae her ?ord

CEou said there ?as a message <or me,C '9dia reminded him

C+Gll read 9ou her ?ill <irst,C Dundee said Luietl9, li<ting the sheetsagain: C+ am here?ith setting do?n m9 last ?ill and testament, inm9 o?nhand?riting + do here and no? solemnl9 ?ill and beLueath to m9<aith<uland beloed maid, '9dia )arr, all propert9, in*luding all mone9s,

sto*sand personal belongings o< ?hi*h + die possessed--C

CTo--HmeHKC '9dia ?hispered CTo meKC

CTo 9ou, '9dia,C Dundee assured her grael9

CThen + *an hae all her prett9 *lothes to eep al?a9sKC

CAnd her mone9, to do as 9ou lie ?ith, i< the *ourt a**epts this?ill<or probate--as + thin it ?ill, regardless o< the <a*t that it is er9in<ormal and ?as not ?itnessedC



CBut--she didnGt hae an9 mone9,C '9dia protested Cothing but?hatMrs Dunlap paid her in adan*e <or the ?or she ?as going todo--C

C'9dia, 9our mistress died possessed o< nearl9 ten thousanddollarsICDundee <ied her be?ildered gre9 e9e ?ith his blue ones CHTenthousanddollarsIH All o< ?hi*h she got right here in 1amiltonI And + ?ant9ou totell me ho? she got itIC

CBut--+ donGt no?I + donGt beliee she had itIC

Dundee shrugged (ither this ?oman ?ould per;ure her soul toprote*t hermistressG name <rom s*andal, or she reall9 ne? nothing

CThat is all o< the ?ill itsel<, '9dia,C he ?ent on <inall9, Ce*ept her*ommand that her bod9 be *remated ?ithout <uneral seri*es o<an9 ind,

and that nobod9 be allo?ed to a**ompan9 the remains to the*remator9e*ept 9oursel< and Mrs eter Dunlap, in *ase her death taespla*e in1amilton--C

CShe HdidH loe Mrs Dunlap,C '9dia sobbed Ch, m9 poor littlegirl--C

CAnd there is also a note <or 9ou, ?hi*h + too the libert9 o<reading,in ?hi*h Mrs Selim minutel9 des*ribes the *lothes in ?hi*h she?ishesto be *remated, as ?ell as the <ashion in ?hi*h her hair is to bedressed--C



C'et me see itIC '9dia plunged <or?ard on her nees and snat*hedat thepapers he held Cor 4odGs sae, let me seeIC

)1AT(R T1+RT((

C+Gll read 9ou the note, '9dia, but + *anGt let 9ou tou*h it,C Dundeesaid sternl9, taing good *are that she should not tou*h either the

paper on ?hi*h the note to hersel< had been ?ritten or the sheet?hi*h*ontained that strange, in<ormal ?ill +n<ormal, in spite o< thedead?omanGs obious e<<ort to *ou*h it in legal phraseolog9

Jas '9diaGs <ren9 assumedK Did she hope to leae <ingerprintsno? ?hi*h?ould a**ount <or <ingerprints she had alread9 le<t upon itK Jas it

notpossible that '9diaGs had been the pr9ing <ingers ?hi*h hadopened theenelope a<ter ita Selim had sealed it ?ith 4od onl9 ne? ?hat<ears inher heartK +< so, '9dia )arr had <ound that she ?as her mistressGsolelegatee HReenge, *oupled ?ith greedH Jhat better motie<or

murder *ould a dete*tie asK And ?ho had had so good anopportunit9 as'9dia )arr to dispose o< the ?eaponK

The ?oman *rou*hed ba* on her haun*hes, an agon9 o< pleadingin her



single e9e

C'9dia, + thin 9ou no? alread9 ?hat this note tells 9ou,CDundee said

slo?l9

To his astonishment the maid nodded, the tears starting again C+asedher on*e ?hat she ?anted to eep that old dress <or, and she--she said+Gd <ind out some da9, but + neer dreamed sheGd ?ant it <or a--oh, m94odI--<or a HshroudHIC

or the se*ond time that eening '9dia )arr *ompletel9 routedDundeeGs*are<ull9 ?ored-up *ase against her +t ?as in*on*eiable, hetoldhimsel<, that a mind *unning enough to hae ee*uted thismurder ?ouldgie itsel< a?a9 in su*h a <ashion +< she had indeed pried amongher

mistressG papers and <ound the ?ill and note, ?ould she not, <romthemost primitie instin*t o< sel<-preseration, hae pretended totalignoran*e o< the noteGs *ontentsK

C+Gll read the note, '9dia,C he said gentl9 C+t is addressed: GM9pre*ious old '9diaG--C

CShe ?as al?a9s *alling me thatIC the maid sobbed

CAnd she ?rites: G+< 9ou eer read this it ?ill be be*ause +Gm dead,and9ouGll no? that +Ge tried to mae it up to 9ou the onl9 ?a9 +ne? +



neer *ould beliee 9ou reall9 <orgae me, but ma9be 9ou ?illno? Andthere is one last thing + ?ant 9ou to do <or me, '9dia darling Eouremember that old ro9al blue elet dress o< mine that 9ou ?ere

al?a9ssni<<ing at and either tr9ing to mae me gie a?a9 or hae madeoerKAnd remember that + told 9ou that 9ouGd no? some time ?h9 +ept itKJell, + ?ant 9ou to la9 me out in it, '9dia Su*h a <unn9 old-<ashionedshroud, isnGt itK But ?ith dresses long again, ma9be it ?onGtloo so

<unn9, and thereGll be nobod9 but 9ou and 'ois to see me in it,be*ause+Ge said so in m9 ?ill And + ?ant m9 hair dressed as it ?as theonl9time + eer ?ore the ro9al blue elet A ren*h roll, '9dia, ?ithlittle *urls *oming out the le<t side o< it and hanging do?n to thele<tear Eou brush the hair straight up the ba* o< the head, gather ittogether and tie a little bit o< bla* shoestring around it, then 9ou

t?ist the hair into a roll and spread it high, pinning it do?n onea*hside o< the head HAnd donGt <orget the little *urls on the le<t sideI H+ hope + hae enough hair, but i< it hasnGt gro?n long enough, 9ouno? ?here those s?it*hes are that + had made ?hen + <irstbobbed m9hair Eou ?onGt mind tou*hing me ?hen +Gm dead, ?ill 9ou,'9diaK + do

loe 9ou itaGC

Dundee ?as silent <or a minute a<ter he had <inished reading thestrangenote and had returned it to the enelope, along ?ith the ?ill Atlast,



speaing against a lump in his throat, he broe in on the desolatesobbing o< itaGs maid:

C'9dia, ho? old ?as 9our mistressKC

CEou ?onGt put it in the papers, ?ill 9ouKC '9dia pleaded CShe--she?as--thirt9-three But not a soul ne? it e*ept me--C

CAnd ?ill 9ou tell me ho? old the ro9al blue elet dress isKC he*ontinued CAlso, ho? long sin*e girls dressed their hair in aren*hrollKC

CThe dress is t?ele or thirteen 9ears old,C '9dia said, her oi*edullno? ?ith grie< C+ no?, be*ause + used to do dressmaing duringthe?ar And it ?as during the ?ar that girls ?ore their hair that?a9--+did mine in a s9*he not, but the ren*h roll ?as more st9lishC

CDid 9our mistress eer tell 9ou about the one time she ?ore thedressKC

'9dia shoo her head Co She ?ouldnGt tal about it--;ust said+Gdno? sometime ?h9 she ept it Ro9al blue elet, it is, thesirthal<?a9 to the anles, and sleees ?ith long pointed ends, lined?ith

gold ta<<eta, and <inished o<< ?ith gold tassels +tGs in a dress bag,hanging in her *losetC

CDo 9ou thin it ?as her ?edding dress, '9diaKC Dundeesuggested, theidea suddenl9 <lashing into his mind



C+ donGt no? + didnGt as her that,C '9dia denied dull9 C)an +taeit ?ith me--and the s?it*hes she had made out o< her *urlsKC

C+Gll hae to get authorit9 to remoe an9thing <rom the house,'9dia,CDundee told her CBut + am sure 9ou ?ill be permitted to <ollo?MrsSelimGs instru*tions So 9ouGre going to a**ept the MilesG o<<ero< a ;ob as nurseKC

CEes +Gd rather ?or Mr and Mrs Miles hae al?a9s beenspe*iall9ni*e to me, and +--+ *ould loe their *hildren The9Gre not--a<raido< me--C

Cerhaps 9ouGre ?ise,C Dundee agreed CB9 the ?a9, '9dia, didMrs Selimhae a pistol in her possession at an9 time during the past

?eeKC

The maid shoo her head Cot that + seen And i< sheGd got onebe*auseshe ?as a<raid, sheGd a-ept it hand9 and +Gd a-been bound to seeitC

)onin*ed o< her sin*erit9, he ?as about to let her go to pa* herbag

?hen another belated Luestion o**urred to him C'9dia, ?ill 9outell me?hat engagements Mrs Selim had this last ?eeKC

The ?oman s*o?led, <anati*all9 ;ealous, Dundee guessed, o< hermistressG



reputation, but at last she ans?ered de<iantl9: C'et me see MrSprague had Sunda9 dinner here, and spent the a<ternoon, butSunda9night it ?as 9oung Mr Ralph 1ammond 1e *ome ?heneer sheGd

lethim Monda9 nightK h, 9esI She had dinner at the )ountr9)lub?ith the Mileses and the Draes and the Dunlaps Mr Milesbrought herhome, be*ause Mr Sprague ?asnGt inited Tuesda9 night--letmethinI Ees, thatGs the night 3udge Marshall ?as here ita hadsent

<or him to tal about <inishing up the atti*--C

So that ?as the Cbusiness engagementC ?hi*h 3udge Marshall hadhemmedand ha?ed oer, Dundee re<le*ted triumphantl9

C--and Jednesda9 night,C '9dia ?as *ontinuing, ?ith a *ertainpride inher mistressG popularit9, Cshe ?as at a dinner part9 at the

DunlapsGC

CDid Mr eter Dunlap eer *all on Mrs Selim--aloneKC

CH1imKHC '9dia ?as *uriousl9 resent<ul C1e ?asnGt eer hereita saidto me she ?ished Mr eter lied her as ?ell as MisG 'ois didC

CThursda9 nightKC

CMr Ralph 1ammond too her some?here to dinner, to someother to?n, +thin, but + ?asnGt a?ae ?hen the9 got home ita neer ?ouldlet me



set up <or her--said + needed m9 rest So + al?a9s ?ent to bedearl9C

CAnd 9esterda9--rida9KC Dundee demanded tensel9 or rida9

she hadbeen drien to maing her last ?ill and testament

CShe ?as home all da9, but about hal< past <our Mr Drae *ame,C'9diasaid slo?l9, as i< she too ?ere ?ondering CShe ?as a?<ull9restless,*ouldnGt set still or eat + ought to hae suspi*ioned something,but

she ?as o<ten lie that--latel9 Mr Drae sta9ed about an hour +didnGt see him leae, be*ause + ?as *ooing itaGs dinner Butlittlegood it did, be*ause she didnGt eat it, so there ?as plent9 <or MrSprague ?hen he dropped in about seenC

CDid Sprague spend the eeningKC

C+ guess so, but + donGt no? ita made me tae the ord and

drie intoto?n <or a pi*ture sho? She ?as in bed ?hen + got ba*, and--Cbut she*he*ed hersel< hastil9

CDid ita seem strange--troubled, e*itedK Did she loo as i<sheGd been*r9ingKC Dundee prodded

C+ didnGt see her,C the maid a*no?ledged C+ no*ed on herdoor, butshe told me to go on to bed, that she ?ouldnGt need me But no?+ thinba*, her oi*e sounded Lueer Ma9be she H?asH *r9ing, but +donGt



no?--C

CAnd this morningKC

CShe seemed all right--;ust e*ited about the part9 and ?orriedabout m9tooth Mr Ralph 1ammond *ome to mae the estimates on<inishing up thetop <loor, and ?e le<t him here--C

CJhat ?as her attitude to?ard Mr Miles ?hen he dropped in onher thismorningKC Dundee interrupted

CMr MilesKC '9dia e*hoed, <ro?ning C1e ?asnGt here thismorning, or i< he ?as, it ?as a<ter ita and + le<t <or to?nC

Jhile the maid ?as pa*ing a bag, ?hi*h Dundee ?ould eaminebe<ore she?as allo?ed to tae it a?a9 ?ith her, the dete*tie re;oinedTra*e9

Miles, ?ho had made himsel< as *om<ortable as possible in theliingroom

C'9diaGs going ?ith 9ou, and is grate<ul <or 9our ?i<eGs indness,CDundee in<ormed him, and <elt his heart ?arm to the boresome,egotisti*al little *herub o< a man ?hen he sa? ho? MilesG <a*e litup?ith real pleasure CB9 the ?a9, Miles, 9ou sa? Ralph 1ammond

?hen 9ou*alled here this morning, didnGt 9ouKC

CEes,C Miles ans?ered ?ith some relu*tan*e C1e ans?ered thedoor ?hen +rang and told me '9dia and ita had gone into to?nC



CMr Miles,C Dundee began slo?l9, thro?ing <riendliness andpersuasioninto his oi*e, C+ no? ho? all 9ou <ols sti* together, but +Gd

appre*iate it a lot i< 9ouGd tell me <ranl9 ?hether 9ou noti*edan9thing unusual in 1ammondGs manner this morningC

C5nusualKC Miles repeated, <ro?ning C1e ?as a little short ?ithmebe*ause he ?as bus9, and, + suspe*t, a little ;ealous be*ause +Gd*ome*alling on ita--C 1e broe o<< abruptl9, in obious distress C'oohere, DundeeI + didnGt mean to sa9 that, but + suppose 9ouGll <ind

outsooner or later Jell, the <a*t is, the ?hole *ro?d no?s Ralph1ammond ?as absolutel9 mad about ita Selim Janted to marr9her, andmade no se*ret o< it, though ?e all thought or hoped it ?ould belittleenn9 )rain 1eGs been deoted to enn9 <or 9ears, and sin*eRoger )rainmade a mess o< things and sipped out, leaing enn9 and her

poor motherhigh and dr9, ?eGe all done our best to thro? enn9 and RalphtogetherBut sin*e ita *ame to to?n--C

CJas ita in loe ?ith RalphKC Dundee *ut in, rather *urtl9, <or hehada *urious distaste <or hearing enn9 )rain dis*ussed in thismanner

CSometimes ?e ?ere sure she ?as,C Miles ans?ered CShe <lirted?ith allo< us men--had a ?a9 ?ith her o< maing eer9 man she taledto thin he



?as the onl9 pebble on the bea*h But there ?as somethingspe*ial in the?a9 she looed at Ralph Ees, + thin she H?asH in loe ?ithhimI But

then again,C he <ro?ned, Cshe ?ould treat him lie a dog Seemedto ?antto drie him a?a9 <rom her--but she al?a9s *alled him ba*--h,'ordIChe interrupted himsel< ?ith a groan Co? + suppose + HhaeH putm9 <ootin itI EouGe got the damnedest ?a9 o< maing a *hap telleer9thing he?ould *ut his tongue out rather than spill, DundeeI But ;ust

be*ause a9oung manGs in loe, and happens not to sho? up at a part9, is noreasonto thin he sneaed up to the house and illed the ?oman heloed and?anted to marr9 or +Gm not so dumb that + haenGt seen thedri<t o< 9our damnable Luestions, DundeeI Do 9ou no? Ralph1ammond, b9 an9

*han*eKC he *on*luded, his round <a*e red ?ith anger

Co--but + should lie to meet him,C Dundee retorted C1e seemsLuitehard to lo*ate this eeningC

CJell, ?hen 9ou do meet him,C Tra*e9 Miles began iolentl9, hisbluee9es blaing ?ith anger, C9ouGll soon <ind 9ouGe been baring up

the?rong treeI ThereGs not a *leaner, <iner, straighter--C

C+n <a*t, he is a <riend o< 9ours, Miles,C Dundee ans?eredsoothingl9,



Cand + respe*t 9ou <or eer9 ?ord 9ouGe said B9 the ?a9, didall o< 9ou go to the )ountr9 )lub <or dinner a<ter 9ou le<t hereKC

Some?hat molli<ied, Miles ans?ered: CAll o< us but )lie1ammond 1esaid he ?as going to hae a loo around <or Ralph himsel<Seemed tohae an idea ?here he might <ind him And, oh, 9es, Spraguedisappeared in the s*ramble 1e hasnGt a *ar and nobod9 thoughto< o<<ering him a li<t 4uess he too a bus into 1amilton AhI1ereGs

'9diaI 1ello, '9diaIC he *alled heartil9 to the ?oman ?ho ?asstanding, tall and gaunt, in the door?a9 CMight9 glad 9ouGre*oming toloo a<ter the idsIC

rom behind the bla* eil ?hi*h draped her ugl9 bla* hat andhid hers*arred <a*e, '9dia ans?ered in the dull, harsh oi*e that ?as*hara*teristi* o< her:

CThan 9ou, sir +Gll do m9 bestC

She made no protest ?hen Dundee, ?ith a ?ord o< embarrassedapolog9,?ent rapidl9 through the hea9 suit*ase she had brought up <romthebasement ?ith her And ?hen he had <inished his <ruitless sear*h,she

nelt and silentl9 smoothed the *oarse, utilitarian garments hehaddisarranged

ie minutes later Dundee ?as alone in the house ?here murderhad been



Dundee stared blanl9 at the door, ?hi*h ?as eLuipped ?ith aEale lo*Someone ?ith a e9 But ?h9 had the door been le<t a;arK HTomae

es*ape more noiselessKH

Jith the toe o< his shoe Dundee pushed the door to and heardthe *li*o< the lo*, then, all thought o< <ood routed <rom his mind, madeaLui* but almost silent dash into the dining room to se*ure one o<thepair o< tall ?a tapers, ?hi*h, in their siler *andlesti*s, sered

asornaments <or the sideboard

+< the intruder ?as still in the house he *ould be no?here but inthatun<inished hal< o< the gabled top stor9 The nearer stairs ?erethose inthe ba* hall, and Dundee too them t?o at a time, regardless o<the

noise Jho had pre*eded him stealthil9K B9 the aid o< hislighted*andle he dis*oered an ele*tri* s?it*h at the head o< the stairs,<li*ed it on, and <ound himsel< in a ?ide hall, one ?all o< ?hi*h?as<inished ?ith bu<<-tinted plaster and ?ith three doors, the other o< rough boards ?ith but a single door

Jith his *andle held high, so that its light should not blind him,

and?ell a?are that it made him a per<e*t target, Dundee opened theunpainted door and <ound himsel< in the dar, must9-smellingroom thathad sered ita Selim and the )rains be<ore her as a storeroomrom the



*eiling dangled a green *ord ending in a *heap, *lear-glass bulb,butits light ?as su<<i*ient to penetrate een the <arthest lo? noosmade

b9 the three gables 1e ble? out his *andle and dropped it, asuselessno?

A Lui* tour *onin*ed him that nothing human ?as *on*ealedbehind oneo< ita SelimGs empt9 ?ardrobe truns, or behind one o< theseeralpie*es o< hea9 old <urniture, undoubtedl9 le<t behind b9 the

dispossessed )rain <amil9

Big <ootprints on the thi* dust ?hi*h *oated the <loor sho?edhim thathe ?as being no more thorough than )aptain Stra?nGs bra*e o< plain*lothes dete*ties had been mu*h earlier that eening T?opairs o< giant <ootprints

Jith an e*lamation he dis*oered a smaller, narro? pair o<prints, and<ollo?ed their ?inding trail all around and a*ross the atti* Andthenhe remembered Ralph 1ammondGs <ootprints, o< *ourse, madethatmorning as he ?ent about his legitimate business o< measuringandestimating <or the ;ob o< turning the storeroom into bedrooms

andbathrooms

Dundee had not realied that he ?as <rightened until he ?as inthe hallagain, <a*ing one o< the three doors in the plastered ?all Jith



surprise, and some amusement, he be*ame a?are that his hands?eretrembling, and that his nees had a *urious tenden*9 to bu*le

The <a*t that the door dire*tl9 in <ront o< him ?as open about t?oin*hes sered, <or some odd reason, to stead9 his neresushing thedoor ?ide open ?ith his <oot--<or he neer <orgot the possibilit9 o< in*riminating <ingerprints ?hi*h might easil9 be obliterated, hedis*oered a light s?it*h near the door <rame

The instant illumination <rom a *eiling *luster reealed a largebedroom, and less *learl9, another and smaller room be9ond it,

<a*ing asthe house <a*ed--to?ard the south 7nees and hands stead9again, heinestigated the <inished portion o< the gabled stor9 s?i<tl9 A*harming la9out, he told himsel< 1ad enn9 )rain on*e en;o9edthisdelight<ul little sitting-room, ?ith its tin9 bal*on9 built out uponthesloping roo<K And it gae him pleasure to thin that this big,

?ell-<urnished but not <ussil9 <eminine bedroom had on*e beenhers, as?ell as the small but per<e*t bathroom ?hose high narro??indo?oerlooed the ba* garden The *losets, dresser dra?ers andhighbo9dra?ers ?ere *ompletel9 empt9, ho?eer, o< an9 tra*es o< hero**upan*9or that o< an9 other

Jith these rooms going to ?aste, ?h9--he suddenl9 asedhimsel<--hadita Selim *oaed 3udge Marshall to hae the un<inished hal< o<the



gabled atti* turned into bedrooms and bathsK Jh9 *ouldnGt '9diahaeslept up here, i< ita thought so mu*h o< her C<aith<ul and beloedmaidCK

But een as he ased himsel< the Luestion Dundee realied thattheans?er to it had been struggling to attra*t his attention

HThese rooms had not been ?astedIH Someone had beeno**up9ing them aslate as last nightI Jeaing s?i<tl9 through the three rooms, lie abloodhound on the s*ent, Dundee *olle*ted the <e? but su<<i*ient

proo<sto ba* up his intuitie *oni*tion A *op9 o< HThe 1amilton(eningSunH, dated rida9, Ma9 2%, le<t in an arm*hair in the sitting-room All?indo?s raised about si in*hes <rom the bottom, so that thenightbreee stirred the hand-blo*ed linen drapes And, *linging tothese

drapes, the <aint but unmistaable odor o< *igarette smoeinall9,?ith a lo? *r9 o< triumph, Bonnie Dundee <lung ba* the *oloredlinenspread ?hi*h *oered the three-Luarter bed and dis*oered thatthesheets and pillo? *ases, though *lean, had, be9ond the shado? o<adoubt, been slept upon

Bending so that his nose almost tou*hed a pillo? *ase he sni<<ed HomadeIH Jho ?as the man ?ho had slept in this bed lastnightK



)1AT(R 5RT((

Jith the thrill o< his dis*oer9 singing blithel9 along his neres,Bonnie Dundee, Spe*ial +nestigator <or the Distri*t Attorne9, hadat<irst hugged the intention o< <ollo?ing the ne? trail alone 1adnGt)aptain Stra?n taunted him not too good-naturedl9 about hisabilit9 toget along ?ithout the 9ounger manGs helpK

But he ?as glad, both sel<ishl9 and unsel<ishl9, ?hen, hal< an hourlater, he thre? open the <ront door o< dead itaGs house to the*hie< o< the 1omi*ide SLuad, )arra?a9, the <ingerprint epert, and thet?oplain*lothesmen ?ho had sear*hed the top <loor <or the missing?eapon orthe murderer himsel< soon a<ter the murder had been *ommittedor i<

Stra?n needed his help, Dundee needed the epert ma*hiner9?hi*h Stra?n*aptained And it ?as good to <eel the grip o< gratitude in the old*hie<Gs hand*lasp and to see the almost sh9 t?inle o< apolog9 inhishard old gre9 e9es

Dundee led the ?a9 up the <ront stairs to the upper <loor, glad tohear

the hea9 tread o< o<<i*ial <eet behind him

C+ guess 9ouGe got it all doped out ?ho the Selim ?omanGsgentleman<riend ?as,C Stra?n *ommented geniall9, as he <ollo?ed Dundeeinto the



pleasant, big bedroom

C+ beliee + hae, but + need )arra?a9 to proe m9 hun*h,CDundee

a*no?ledged

(agerl9, s?i<tl9, he displa9ed his <irst tangible <inds--the open?indo?s, the drapes smelling o< *igarette smoe, the eeningpaper o< the da9 be<ore, the <aint odor and greasiness o< barberGs pomadeuponthe pillo? *ase o< the bed ?hi*h had *learl9 been slept in sin*ethe

linen ?as *hanged

Co?, )ollins--1armon--C Dundee ?hirled upon the t?o silentplain*lothesmen, C+ ?ant to no? ?hat 9ou sa? in these rooms?hen 9ousear*hed them earl9 this eening that 9ou donGt see no? Eoulooed intothe *losets and dra?ers, o< *ourseKC

CEes, sir,C )ollins ans?ered CAnd the9 ?as all empt9, Dundee Meand1armon didnGt ?aste time smelling pillo? *ases, and + admit ?edidnGtpa9 no attention to that there ne?spaper--C

CH(mpt9IHC Dundee e*hoed CAre 9ou sureK Eou, too, 1armonKC

CJhat are 9ou driing at, bo9KC )aptain Stra?n ased indulgentl9

Brie<l9, ?ith disappointment <lattening his oi*e, Dundee told o<his<inding the it*hen door a;ar, a<ter he had made sure it ?aslo*ed onhis <irst rounds o< the house



C+ ?ored it out this ?a9,C he *ontinued, despite Stra?nGs grinCDeterSprague ?as itaGs loer, as + had thought all along 1e ?as in

thehabit o< spending the night here ?heneer ita ?ould gie him aneeningo< her *ompan9 1e ?as here last night, a**ording to the maid,'9dia)arr ita sent her into 1amilton to a pi*ture sho? ita andSpragueLuarreled last night, but + am positie he spent the night herean9?a9

)ertainl9 there ?as no a*tual rupture, sin*e Sprague ?orded hisnote toher as he did + hae another strong reason <or thining hisbelongings?ere here at least until noon toda9, but that *an ?ait <or themomenturthermore, + am positie that Sprague des*ended b9 theba*stairs and?ent around the house to ;oin the *o*tail part9 ?hi*h ?as to

<ollo? thehen bridge part9C

C1o? do 9ou mae that out, BonnieKC Stra?n ased, his grin?iped a?a9

CTr9 to remember ho? Sprague looed ?hen 9ou <irst got here,CDundeesuggested C+ sa? him t?ent9 minutes a<ter 9ou did, but--Hhe

?as ?earingan imma*ulate sti<< *ollar, and there ?ere still tra*es o< tal*umpo?deroer a *lose shaeHI And 9ou ?ill remember that he said he hadmade a



hal< hourGs trip b9 bus, and had ?aled the Luarter o< a mile <romthebus stop on Sheridan Road to this house +t ?as a might9 hota<ternoon,

*hie<IC

Cot *on*lusie,C Stra?n gro?led

CThen hereGs another stra? to add to the ?eight o< m9*on*lusion,CDundee ?ent on unshaen CEou remember that 3anet Ra9mond?as on the<ront por*h H?at*hing <or SpragueH, ?hile the Gdeath hand o<

bridgeG ?asbeing pla9edK h, she tried to prote*t him Jait, +Gll read 9outhe notes + made ?hen + ?as Luestioning her + looed them up?hile +?as ?aiting <or 9ou 1ereI + had said to Miss Ra9mond: GEouobseredMr Sprague toiling do?n the rutt9 road, hot and ?ear9, butromanti* inthe sunsetKG And she ans?ered, stammering: G+--+ ?asnGt looing

that?a9G And + ne? she ?as l9ing, ne? that she had been taen*ompletel9 b9 surprise ?hen Sprague suddenl9 appeared H<romthe rear o< the houseHI JhatGs more, she betra9ed hersel< and him b9admitting thatshe ?as surprised Then--be*ause the girl is undoubtedl9 in loe?ithSprague and ?as mortall9 a<raid he had illed ita Selim, she

tried<ranti*all9 to thro? suspi*ion on '9dia )arr, b9 telling ho? '9diahad<ailed to ans?er Mrs DunlapGs <irst ring--4ood 'ordI Jait aminuteI +?ant to thinIC he interrupted himsel< to e*laim



A<ter a <ull minute, ?hile he had stood er9 still, ?ith his <ingerspressed against his *losed e9es, Dundee began slo?l9:

C+ beliee thatGs it 'isten, bo9sIC 1e turned to the t?oplain*lothesmen, urgent pleading in his oi*e CJould 9ou bothtae 9ouroath that there ?as no bag--sa9 a small 4ladstone oernightbag--an9?here in these rooms ?hen 9ou sear*hed them thiseeningKC

The t?o dete*ties glan*ed at ea*h other, their <a*es reddening+t ?as

1armon, the older o< the pair, ?ho s?allo?ed hard be<oreans?ering:

CJeGd been told to loo <or a man hiding, and <or a gun--C ThenhesLuared his shoulders as i< to re*eie the blame lie a man CEes,sirIThere ?as a little bla* grip on the *loset shel< + ?ent through itm9sel<, but there ?asnGt no gun in it 3ust a pair o< pa;amas and a

*ouple o< shirts, one o< Gem dirt9, some so*s and *ollars and ashaing-it--C

Dundee dre? a deep breath, and *lapped the red-<a*ed dete*tieon theba* in high good humor

CThere simpl9 HhadH to be a bag some?hereIC he laughed

CThis is the ?a9 o< it, Stra?n ita and Sprague ro?ed lastnightSprague tried to mae it up, but ita must hae been through?ith himrobabl9 told him last night to *lear his things out and not *omeba*



She thought he had done soF probabl9 he did leae be<ore shegot up Atan9 rate she ?as so sure he ?as gone and his things ?ith himthat she

and '9dia ?ent to to?n this morning and le<t Ralph 1ammondhere to gothrough the pla*e as <reel9 as he lied, maing his estimates onthe ;obo< <inishing up the other hal< o< this <loor And Ralph--but let that?ait <or the momentC

C4ot an9 real proo< that it ?as Sprague ?ho sta9ed here and notthe

1ammond bo9KC Stra?n interrupted shre?dl9

C+Gm *oming to the proo<,C Dundee assured him, Cor rather, therest o< the proo< that + haenGt alread9 gien 9ou EouGre damned hard to*onin*e, *hie<I But let me go on ?ith m9 theor9, ?hi*h + thin*oersthe <a*ts At lun*heon, ?hen ita re*eied that note <romSprague, +

imagine she got a hun*h that he hadnGt taen her seriousl9, thathe hadnot remoed his belongings Eou remember enn9 )rain said itahad '9dia<ollo? her into her bedroom, as soon as ita got home <rom thelun*heonK Jell, itGs m9 hun*h that ita ased '9dia i< SpragueGsthings ?ere gone ?hen she *leaned these rooms this morning,and that'9dia said no ita then probabl9 told '9dia to pa* them hersel<,

and +<eel positie that '9dia did so, <or she must hae <elt sa<e ?hensheprotested to me that Sprague ?as not itaGs loer + also <eel surethat



Sprague arried at least hal< an hour be<ore he said he did, b9someba* path a*ross the meado?F that he *ame up to these roomsthat he

*onsidered his, <ound his things pa*ed, but ?ent about shaingand*hanging his shirt and *ollar, regardless + also <eel sure that'9dia<ollo?ed him upstairs to eplain and impress upon him that itahadmeant ?hat she said And it is Luite liel9 that she ?as notthroughpi*ing up a<ter him ?hen he des*ended b9 the ba* stairs and

surprised3anet Ra9mond on the <ront por*h That a**ounts, o< *ourse, <or'9diaGsnot hearing the it*hen bell the <irst time Mrs Dunlap rangC

C5mm,C Stra?n grunted CJhat about the proo<s 9ouGre holdingba*KC

C)ome along, *hie<--9ou, too, )arra?a9IC Dundee ans?ered, and

led the?a9 into the bathroom C+ <elt sure these rooms ?ould 9ield aer9de<inite *lue, een though Sprague, ?hen he sneaed ba*tonight to gethis tell-tale bag, apparentl9 made eer9 e<<ort to ?ipe his<ingerprintso<< the <urniture and bathroom <itures o?, )arra?a9, i< 9ouGllstep upon this little stool and loo along the top o< this medi*ine

*abinet, 9ouGll <ind ?hat + <ound--and didnGt tou*hC

The <ingerprint epert did as he ?as told Jhen he stepped do?nhe ?asholding, bet?een the er9 tips o< his <ingers, a sa<et9 raor blade



Co dust on it, 9ou see,C Dundee pointed out Co? i< 9ou donGt<indDeter SpragueGs <ingerprints on it, m9 ?hole theor9 topplesC

C1o? am + going to no? ?hose <ingerprints the9 are till ?e gethold o< SpragueKC )arra?a9 ased reasonabl9

CJe donGt need him--<or that purpose, at least,C Dundee assuredhimCDo?nstairs in the liing room, on a little table in the southeast*orner o< the room, 9ouGll <ind a red glass ashtra9 ?hi*h no onebut

Deter Sprague used all eening +t ?as *lean and empt9 ?hen +sa? himuse it <irst + thin 9ouGll <ind on it all the prints 9ou needC

CSo 9ou thin Sprague illed her be*ause she ?as through ?ithhimKCStra?n ased

Dundee shoo his head CSin*e + donGt lie Deter Sprague a little

bit,*hie<, +Gd lie to thin so, but--C

)1AT(R +T((

Bonnie DundeeGs <irst thought upon a?aening that Sunda9morning ?asthat it might proe to be rather a pit9 that his ne? ba*helorapartment,as he loed to *all his three rooms at the top o< a lodging house?hi*h



had on*e been a <ashionable priate home, <a*ed south and ?est,ratherthan east At the Rhodes 1ouse, ?hose boarding-house *lamorand la* o<

pria*9 he had abandoned upon taing the <lattering ;ob andde*entsalar9 o< CSpe*ial +nestigator atta*hed to the Distri*t Attorne9Gso<<i*e,C he had gro?n a**ustomed to using the hot morning sunupon hisrelu*tant e9elids as an alarm *lo*

But--he *ontinued the train o< thought, a<ter dis*oering b9 his?at*h

that it ?as not lateF onl9 8:$0--it ?as prett9 darned ni*e haingCdiggingsC lie these uiet and priate or he ?as the onl9tenantno? on the top <loor 1is pleased, la9 e9es roed oer the plainseerit9 but solid *om<ort o< his bedroom, and on past the opendoor totae in appre*iatiel9 the eLuall9 *om<ortable and mas*ulineliingroom rett9 ni*eI That leather-upholstered *ou*h and arm*hair

hadbeen a real bargain, and he lied them all the better <or beingrathers*u<<ed and shabb9 Then his e9es halted upon a *oered *age,s?ung <roma pedestal

Coor old )apGnI Must be ?ondering ?hen the deil +Gm going toget

upIC and he s?ung out o< bed, lounged sleepil9 into the smallliingroom and ?hised the sLuare o< bla* sil <rom the *age

The parrot, <ormerl9 the propert9 o< murdered old Mrs 1ogartho< the



Rhodes 1ouse, but <or the past 9ear the 9oung dete*tieGs o<<i*ialCJatson,C ru<<led his <eathers, poed his green-and-9ello? headbet?eenthe bars o< his *age and *roaed hoarsel9: C1ulloI 1ulloIC

C1ullo, 9oursel<, m9 dear JatsonIC Dundee retorted CEoura*ation isoer, old topI +tGs ba* on the ;ob <or 9ou and me bothI Jhi*hreminds me that + ought to be taing a sLuint at the Sunda9papers, tosee ho? mu*h )aptain Stra?n thought <it to tell the pressC

1e <ound HThe 1amilton Morning e?sH in the hall ;ust outside

his liingroom door

C'isten, )apGn G+TA S('+M M5RD(R(D AT BR+D4(G robabl9thesnappiest streamer headline the e?s has had <or man9 a da9o?letGs see--C 1e ?as silent <or t?o minutes, ?hile his e9es leapeddo?n

the lesser headlines and the *olumn one, page one stor9 o< themurderThen: C4ood old Stra?nI ot a ?ord, m9 dear Jatson, about9our absurdmasterGs absurd per<orman*e in haing Gthe death hand at bridgeGrepla9ed ot a ?ord about Ralph 1ammond, the missing guestIot a ?ordabout Mrs Tra*e9 MilesG being hidden a?a9 in the *lothes *loset?hile

her hostess ?as being murderedI +n <a*t, m9 dear Jatson, nota ?ordabout an9thing e*ept Stra?nGs o?n theor9 that a hired gunman<rom e?Eor or )hi*ago--pre<erabl9 itaGs home to?n, e? Eor, o<



*ourse--sneaed up, *rou*hed in her ?indo?, and bumped hero<< HAndHli<e-sie photographs o< the big <ootprints under the ?indo? toproe

his theor9I B9 goll9, )apGnI + *lean <orgot to tell m9 <ormer *hie< that +Gd <ound itaGs ?ill and note to '9diaI 1eGll thin +deliberatel9held out on him Jell--+ *anGt sit here all da9 gossiping ?ith9ou,Gm9 dear JatsonG Jor--mu*h ?or--to be doneF then--Sunda9 dinner?ith poor little enn9C

our hours later a tired and dispirited 9oung dete*tie ?as*limbing thestairs o< an ugl9, <ie-stor9 C?al-upC apartment house in ?hi*henn9)rain and her mother had been liing sin*e the <inan*ial <ailureand<light o< the husband and <ather, Roger )rain

C1ello, thereIC +t ?as enn9Gs <riendl9 oi*e, hailing him <rom the

topmost landing o< the steep stairs CAll ?inded, poor thingKC

1is tired, unhapp9 e9es dran her in--the <reshness ands?eetness o< adomesti* enn9, so di<<erent <rom the thorn9 little o<<i*e enn9?hoprided hersel< on her e<<i*ien*9 as se*retar9 to the distri*tattorne9 enn9 in <lo?ered oile, ?ith a sau*9, ru<<led ?hiteapron But there ?ere purplish shado?s under her bro?n e9es,

and herga9et9 lasted onl9 until he had rea*hed her side

CSh-h-hI--1ae the9 <ound RalphKC she ?hispered aniousl9

1e *ould onl9 ans?er Co,C and he almost *hoed on the ?ord



CMotherGs all o< a t?itter at m9 haing a dete*tie to dinner,C she?hispered, tr9ing to be ga9 again CShe <an*ies 9ouGll be ?earingsie

"" shoes and a Gsi-shooterG at 9our belt--Ees, MotherI +tGs MrDundeeIC

She did not loo Call o< a t?itter,C this prett9 but rather <adedmiddle-aged little mother o< enn9Gs A gentle dignit9 and patientsadness, ?hi*h Dundee ?as sure ?ere habitual to her, la9 in the<adedblue e9es and upon the so<t, s?eet mouth

But Mrs )rain ?as ushering him into the liing room, and its*harm madehim <orget <or the moment that the )rains ?ere to be pitied,be*ause o< their C*ome-do?nC in li<e or eer9 pie*e o< <urniture seemed tobeauthenti* earl9 Ameri*an, and the hooed rugs and <ine,bro*aded damassallied themseles ?ith the <ine old <urniture to de<eat the ugliness

?ith ?hi*h the Maple )ourt ApartmentsG ar*hite*t had been<ier*el9determined to punish its tenants

CGS*use meI 4otta dish upIC enn9 <lung oer her shoulder as sherana?a9 and le<t him alone ?ith her mother

Dundee lied Mrs )rain <or maing no e*uses about a maid the9

*ouldnot a<<ord, lied the ?a9 she settled into a loel9, an*ientro*ing-*hair and set hersel< to entertain him ?hile her daughtermaderead9 the dinner



ot a ?ord ?as said about the horrible traged9 ?hi*h hado**urred theda9 be<ore in the house ?hi*h had on*e been her home The9taled o<

enn9Gs ?or, and the little gentle?oman listened eagerl9, ?ithonl9 the<aintest o< sighs, as Dundee humorousl9 des*ribed enn9Gs <ier*ee<<i*ien*9 and Distri*t Attorne9 SandersonGs een delight in her?or

CBill Sanderson is a ni*e bo9,C the ?oman o< perhaps $8 said o< 1amiltonGs %.-9ear-old distri*t attorne9 C+t is ni*e <or enn9 to?or

?ith an old <riend o< the <amil9, or ?as--until--C

And that ?as the nearest she *ame to mentioning the murderbe<ore enn9summoned them to the little dining room

Be*ause enn9 ?as ?at*hing him and ?as obiousl9 proud o< hersill as a*oo--sill re*entl9 a*Luired, he ?as sure--Dundee ate as heartil9

ashis *are<ull9 *on*ealed depression ?ould permit There ?as abeauti<ull9bro?ned t?o-rib roast o< bee<, pan-bro?ned potatoes, ne? peas,es*alloped tomatoes, and, <or dessert, a gelatine pudding ?hi*henn9proudl9 announ*ed ?as CSpanish *ream,C the se*ret o< ?hi*h shehadmastered onl9 that morning

C+ ?as up almost at da?n to mae it, so that it ?ould GsetG intime,Cshe told him, and b9 the Luier o< her lip Dundee ne? that it?as notSpanish *ream ?hi*h had got her up



C+Gm going to help ?ash dishes,C he announ*ed <irml9, and enn9,?ith aLui* intae o< breath, agreed

C1adnGt 9ou better tae a nap, MotherKC she added a minute later,asMrs )rain, ?ith a slight <lush on her <aded *hees, began to sta*thedessert dishes CEou mustnGt la9 a hand on these dishes, orBonnie and +?ill hae our dish?ashing pi*ni* spoiled Run along no? Eouneed

sleep, dearC

Cot an9 more than 9ou do, poor bab9IC Mrs )rain Luaered, andthenhurried out o< the room, sin*e gentle?omen do not ?eep be<orestrangers

C+ *alled 9ou GBonnieG so Mother ?ould no? ?e are reall9<riends,C

enn9 eplained, her *hees red, as she pre*eded him throughthes?inging door into the miniature it*hen

CEouGll sti* to that--being <riends, + mean, no matter ?hathappens,?onGt 9ou, enn9KC Dundee said in a lo? oi*e, setting the <ragile*r9stal dishes he *arried upon the por*elain drainboard o< thesin

C+ ne? 9ou had something bad to tell me +tGs about--Ralph, +supposeKC 1er hus9 oi*e ?as s*ar*el9 audible aboe the rush o<hot?ater into the dishpan CEouGd better tell me straight o<<, Bonnie+Gm



?ouldnGt o**ur to 9ou that it might be an outsider, someone ?hohad<ollo?ed ita and her loer, Sprague, <rom e? Eor, to ill her<or

haing le<t him <or Sprague h, noI )ertainl9 notIC she gibed,toeep <rom bursting into tears

CAn outsider ?ould hardl9 hae had a**ess to 3udge MarshallGspistol andMaim silen*er,C he reminded her CAnd )aptain Stra?n re*eied a?ire<rom a ballisti*s epert in )hi*ago this morning, *on<irming our

*oni*tion that the same gun ?hi*h <ired the bullets against3udgeMarshallGs target <ired the bullet ?hi*h illed ita Selim EouGe?ashed that plate long enough 'et me dr9 it no? And thereare otherthings, enn9--C

CSu*h as--C she *hallenged in her angr9, hus9 *ontralto

CSprague admitted to me this morning, a<ter + had *on<rontedhim ?ithproo<s, that he sometimes slept in the upstairs bedroom--C

C+ told 9ou the9 ?ere loersIC enn9 interrupted

C--and that he slept there rida9 night, a<ter he and ita hadLuarreled 1e still *ontends that the ro? ?as oer thatmoie-o<-1amilton business,C Dundee ?ent on, as i< she had not

spoenC1e admitted also that ita had told him to tae his things a?a9?hen hele<t Saturda9 morning, but he sa9s it ?as onl9 be*ause she didnGt?ant



Ralph 1ammond to <ind a manGs belongings there i< he hado**asion to gointo the upstairs rooms in maing his estimates <or the <inishing-up o<

the other side But he *ontends, and '9dia )arr, ?hom + also sa?againthis morning, supports him in it, that he sta9ed in the houseo**asionall9 ?hen ita ?as parti*ularl9 nerous about beingalone, andthat the9 ?ere HnotH loersC

CoohI DonGt ?ipe the <lo?ers o<< that plate 1ereGs anotherC

C+Gm in*lined to sa9 GoohIG, too, enn9,C Dundee assured her, CbutTra*e9 Miles told me last night ?hen he *ame to get '9dia thatitareall9 seemed to be in loe ?ith Ralph--part o< the time, at leastC

Cita thought enough o< Deter Sprague to send <or him to *omedo?nhere, and to root her head o<< <or him to get the ;ob o< maingthe

moie,C enn9 reminded him <ier*el9, maing a great splashing inthedishpan

CThen--H9ouH donGt thin she ?as in loe ?ith RalphKC Dundeeased

Ch, H+ donGt no?HIC the girl *ried C+ thought so sometimes--had the

gra*e to hope so, an9?a9, sin*e Ralph ?as so *ra9 about herC

CThatGs the point, enn9,C Dundee told her gentl9 C(er9one +Getaledto this morning, in*luding Sprague, seems sure that Ralph1ammond ?as



mad about ita SelimC

CSo o< *ourse he ?ould ill herIC enn9 s*o<<ed bitterl9

CEes, enn9--?hen he dis*oered SpragueGs easil9-re*ognied*raatsdraped oer the mirror <rame in a bedroom in itaGs house orthe9?ere there to be seen ?hen Ralph ?ent into that bedroom9esterda9morningC

C1o? do 9ou no? he sa? themKC

CBe*ause he le<t this behind him,C Dundee admitted relu*tantl9,and?iped his hands be<ore dra?ing an initialed siler pen*il <rom hisbreast po*et C+ <ound it under the edge o< the bed The initialsareR 1C

CEes, + re*ognie it,C enn9 admitted, turning sharpl9 a?a9 C+

gae itto him m9sel<, <or a )hristmas present + thought + *ould a<<ord togiesiler pen*ils a?a9 then Dad hadnGt bolted 9et--C She *rooed anelbo?and leaned her <a*e against it <or a moment Then she <lung upher bro?nbobbed head de<iantl9 CJellKC

CRalph must hae been--?ell, in a prett9 bad ?a9, sin*e he loeditaand ?anted to--marr9 her,C Dundee persisted pain<ull9CRemember thatoll9 Beale <ound him still there ?hen she stopped to o<<er ita ali<t



to Breaa?a9 +nn +t is not hard to imagine ?hat too pla*e Je Hno?Hthat oll9 *urtl9 *an*elled her lun*heon engagement ?ith itaand the

rest o< 9ou, and ?ent into to?n ?ith Ralph, a<ter maing surethat )lie?ould ;oin them + sa? 9oung 1ammond m9sel< <or an instant,?ithoutno?ing ?ho he ?as, and + remember no? thining that helooed <ar tooill to eat + ?as lun*hing at the Stuart 1ouse m9sel< ?hen the9*ameinto the dining room, 9ou no?C

Clent9 to hang him on, + seeIC enn9 *ried <uriousl9

CThereGs a little more, enn9,C Dundee ?ent on Coll9 Beale and)lie1ammond ?ere mortall9 a<raid that Ralph H?ouldH *ome to the*o*tailpart9I +Gm sure )lie made Ralph promise to sta9 a?a9, and thatboth

)lie and oll9 did not trust him to eep his promise That is ?h9,+ amsure, )lie be*oned oll9 to ;oin him in the solarium, ?ithoutenteringthe liing room to spea to ita Eou remember the9 said the9sta9edthere all during the pla9ing o<--C

C+< 9ou *all it the Gdeath handG again, +Gll s*reamIC

CAll right The9 sta9ed there until 7aren dis*oered the murder+ amsure the9 *hose that pla*e be*ause o< its man9 ?indo?s--the9*ould ?at*h



<or RalphGs *ar, dash out and head him o<< Tae him a?a9 b9<or*e, i< ne*essar9, to eep him <rom maing a s*ene + beliee the9 ne?he had

murder in his heart, and that he ?ould <ind a ?a9 to get a gun--C

C1ae 9ou also <ound out that he stole 1ugoGs gun 9esterda9KC

C+ hae <ound that it ?as possible <or him to do so,C Dundee saidslo?l9 CThe butler ?as o<< <or the a<ternoon until si oG*lo*There?as no one in the house but the nursemaid and the-three-months-old

bab9C

CJellK And + suppose 9ou thin )lie and oll9 didnGt hae a*han*e tohead Ralph o<<, as 9ou sa9, but that the9 did see him runninga?a9 a<terhe illed herKC 1er oi*e ?as still brittle ?ith anger, but there?ereinde*ision and <ear in it, too

Co,C Dundee replied C+ donGt thin the9 sa? him + <eel prett9sure he*ame into the house b9 the ba* ?a9, and through the ba* hallintoitaGs room 1e must hae no?n )lie and oll9 ?ould be on thelooout<or him At an9 rate, + hae proo< that ?hoeer shot ita <romin

<ront o< that ?indo? near the por*h door <led to?ard the ba*hallC

And he told her o< the big brone lamp, ?hose bulb had beenbroen,



reminding her o< its pla*e at the head o< the *haise longue ?hi*h?asset bet?een the t?o ?est ?indo?s

CThat ?as the Gbang or bumpG lora Miles heard ?hile she ?ashiding inthe *loset,C he eplained C+ suppose lora has told all o< 9ouaboutitK + thought so Mu<<led as she ?as in the *loset, it is unliel9that she *ould hae heard itaGs <ranti* ?hisperings to Ralph +doubt i< he spoe at all ita must hae been sure he ?as aboutto leaeb9 the por*h door--C

Diml9 there *ame the ring o< the telephone Jith a *urt ?ord,enn9e*used hersel< to ans?er it Dundee ?ent on polishing glasses?ith a<resh to?el

CBonnieIC enn9 ?as *oming ba*, ?aling lie a somnambulist,her bro?n

e9es ?ide and <ied CThat ?as--RalphI HAnd he doesnGt eenno? itais deadIHC

)1AT(R S+QT((

C< *ourse + re*ognied his oi*e instantl9 ?hen he said, GThat9ou,enn9KG and itGs a ?onder + didnGt s*ream,C said enn9 )rain,<ighting



her ?a9 up through daed be?ilderment to eplain in detail, inans?er toDundeeGs pelting Luestions C+ said, G< *ourse, Ralph Jhere HhaeH

9ou beenKG And HheH said, in that *oaing, teasing oi*e o< histhat+ no? so ?ell: Geeed, enn9K + donGt blame 9ou, hone9 Eoureall9ought not to let me *ome oer and eplain ?h9 + stood 9ou uplast night,but 9ou ?ill, ?onGt 9ouK i-i-e enn9IG ThatGs ea*tl9 ho? hetaled, Bonnie DundeeI (a*tl9I Hh, donGt 9ou see he *ouldnGtno? that

ita is deadKHC

CDid 9ou as him ?here he ?asKC Dundee ased <inall9

Co + ;ust told him to *ome on oer, and he said + *ould dependon itthat he ?ouldnGt ?aste an9 time h, BonnieI Jhat shall ?e HdoHKC

C'isten, enn9IC Dundee urged rapidl9 CEou must realie that +Gegotto see and hear, but + donGt ?ant Ralph 1ammond to see HmeHuntil a<terheGs had a tal ?ith 9ou Jill 9ou let me eaesdrop behind theseportieresK + no? itGs a beastl9 thing to do, but--C

enn9 agreed at last, and ?ithin ten minutes a<ter that amaingtelephone *all Dundee, <rom behind the portieres that separated

thedining and liing room, heard enn9 greeting her isitor in thelittle<o9er She had pla9ed <airF had not gone out into the hall to?hisper a?arning--i< an9 ?arning ?as needed



1e had seen Ralph 1ammond enter the dining room o< the Stuart1ouse theda9 be<ore, in *ompan9 ?ith )lie 1ammond and oll9 Beale,

?hen thethree had been strangers to himF but Dundee told himsel< no?that he?ould hardl9 hae re*ognied the 9oung man ?hom enn9 ?aspre*eding intoher liing room The Ralph 1ammond o< Saturda9 had had a?hite, dra?n<a*e and si* e9es But this bo9

'ie his older brother, )lie, Ralph 1ammond had dar-red,*urling hairBut unlie his brotherGs, his e9es ?ere a ?ide, *andid hael--thegreeniris thi*l9 <le*ed ?ith bro?n A little shorter than )lie, a tri<lemore slender But that ?hi*h held the dete*tieGs e9es ?assomethingless tangible but at on*e more eident than superlatie mas*ulinegood

loos +t ?as a sort o< sh9 ;o9ousness and buo9an*e, ?hi*h<lushed thetan o< his *hees, sang in his oi*e, made his e9es almostunbearabl9bright

Be<ore enn9 )rain, er9 pale and Luiet, *ould sin into the *hairshe?as groping to?ard, Ralph 1ammond ?as at her side, one arm

going out toen*ir*le her shoulders

CDonGt loo lie that, enn9IC Dundee heard him plead, his oi*esuddenl9 humble CEouGe eer9 right to be sore at me, hone9,but please



donGt be + no? +Ge been an a?<ul *ad these last <e? ?ees, but+Gmm9sel< again +Gm *ured no?, enn9--C

CJait, RalphIC enn9 protested <aintl9, holding ba* as he ?ouldhaehugged her hard against his breast CJhat about--itaKC

Dundee sa? the 9oung manGs <a*e go darl9 red, but heard himans?eralmost steadil9: C+ hoped 9ouGd understand ?ithout maing meput it into?ords, hone9 +Gm *ured o<--ita + *anGt epress it an9 other

?a9e*ept to sa9 + ?as si*, and no? +Gm *ured--C

CEou mean--C enn9 <altered, but ?ith a s?i<t, imploring glan*eto?ardDundee, C--9ou donGt loe ita an9 moreK Eou *anGt den9 9ou?ereterribl9 in loe ?ith her, Ralph 'ois told us--told HmeH last nightthat ita had told her in stri*test *on<iden*e that she had

promised tomarr9 9ou, ;ust Thursda9 night--C

The bo9Gs <a*e ?as er9 pale as he dropped his hands <romenn9Gsshoulders, but Dundee, <rom behind the portieres, ?as nottroubling tosp9 <or the moment 1e ?as too indignant ?ith enn9 <or haing?ithheld

<rom him the ital <a*t o< itaGs engagement to Ralph1ammond

CThatGs true, enn9,C Ralph ?as sa9ing dull9 CEou hae a right tono?,



be*ause +Gm asing H9ouH to marr9 me no? + did propose toita againThursda9 night, and she did a**ept me + *on<ess no? + ?as ?ild?ith

happiness--C

CJh9 did she re<use 9ou be<oreKC enn9 *ut in, and Dundeesilentl9thaned her <or asing the Luestion he ?ould hae lied to ashimsel<CJas it be*ause she ?asnGt sure she ?as in loe ?ith 9ouKC

CEouGre maing it a?<ull9 hard <or me, hone9,C the bo9 protested,

then admitted humbl9, C< *ourse 9ou ?ant to no?, and 9oushouldno? o, she said all along, almost <rom the <irst that sheloedme more than + *ould loe her, but that there ?ere--reasons HT?oreasonsH, she al?a9s said, and on*e + ased her ;ealousl9 i< the9?ereboth men, but she looed so startled and then laughed so Lueerl9

that +didnGt as again Then + thought it might be be*ause + ?as9oungerthan she ?as, though + *anGt beliee she is more than t?ent9-three or so,and +Gm t?ent9-<ie, 9ou no? And on*e + got *old-si* be*ause+ thoughtshe might still be married, but she said her husband ?as marriedagain,

and + ?asnGt to as Luestions or ?orr9 about him--C

CBut she HdidH a**ept 9ou Thursda9 nightKC enn9 persisted

CEes,C the bo9 admitted, his <a*e darl9 <lushed again CThis isa?<ull9



hard, hone9, but +Gll tell 9ou on*e <or all and get it oer ?ith +too her to dinner Je droe to Burnsille be*ause she said she?as si*o< 1amilton Jhen ?e ?ere driing ba* she suddenl9 be*ame

er9Lueer--re*less, de<iant And she ased me i< + still ?anted tomarr9her, and + said + did + ased her right then to sa9 ?hen, and shesaidsheGd marr9 me 3une <irst, but she added--C and the bo9, toDundeeGs?at*hing e9es, seemed to be genuinel9 puled again b9 ?hatmust hae

sounded so odd at the time--Cthat sheGd marr9 me 3une <irst Hi<shelied to see the da9HC

ChIC enn9 gasped, then, *ontrolling her horror, she ased ?ith?hatsounded lie real *uriosit9, CThen ?hat--happened, RalphK Jh9do 9oupropose to HherH on Thursda9 and to HmeH on--on Sunda9KC

CA gorgeous a*tress sa*ri<i*ed to the t9pe?riter,C Dundee toldhimsel<,as he ?aited <or Ralph 1ammondGs relu*tant repl9

C)anGt ?e <orget it, hone9K Eou do loe me a little, donGt 9ouK)anGt9ou tae m9 ?ord <or it that--+Gm *ured no?--<oreerKC

enn9Gs hands ?ent up to *oer her <a*e, and Dundee had thegra*e to<eel er9 sorr9 indeed <or her--sorr9 een i< she intended to gieherpromise to Ralph 1ammond, as a si* <eeling in his stoma*hprophesied



desperation

C1o? did 9ou no?KC The bo9 stared at the girl blanl9 <or amoment,

then seemed to *rumple as i< <rom a ne? blo? C+ suppose it ?as*ommongossip that ita and Sprague ?ere loers, and + ?as the onl9 oneshe<ooledI M9 4odI To thin all o< 9ou ?ould stand b9 and let me Hmarr9Hher--a *heap little gold-digger <rom Broad?a9, liing ?ith a *heap<our-<lusher she *ouldnGt get along ?ithout and had to send <or--C

CDid 9ou--?ant to ill her, RalphKC enn9 ?hispered, tou*hing oneo< hisnotted <ists ?ith a trembling hand

C7ill herK 4ood 'ord, HnoHIC the bo9 <lung at her iolentl9 C+Gmnotsu*h an ass as thatI Eou girls are all alieI oll9 had so little senseas to thin +Gd ?ant to ill ita and Sprague bothI She *ouldnGtsee,

and neither *ould )lie, that all + ?anted ?as to get a?a9 <romeer9bod9 and get so drun + *ould <orget ?hat a <ool +Gd been--C

CJhat HdidH 9ou do, RalphKC enn9 ased urgentl9

CJh9, + got drun, o< *ourse,C the bo9 ans?ered, as i< surprisedat herpersisten*e CDarling, 9ou ?ouldnGt beliee me i< + told 9ou ho?mu*h

rot-gut S*ot*h it too to put me under, but that <ilth9 bootlegginghotel *ler ?ould hae *harged me t?i*e ?hat he did <or the stu<<i< hehad no?n ho? mu*h good it ?ould do meC



C1otelKC enn9 snat*hed at the ital ?ord CJhere did 9ou go togetdrun, RalphKC

C+ neer realied be<ore 9ou had so mu*h *uriosit9, hone9,C thebo9grinned at her CA<ter + shoo )lie--oll9 ?ent on to itaGs bridgepart9, be*ause she *ouldnGt thro? her do?n at the last minute--+?andered around till + *ame to the Railroad MenGs 1otel, do?n onStateStreet, 9ou no?, the other side o< the tra*s +tGs a miserabledump,but + sort o< hanered <or a pla*e to hide in that ?as as miserable

and*heap as + <elt--C

CDid 9ou register under 9our o?n nameKC

CAshamed o< me, enn9K o, + registered under m9 <irst t?onames--Ralph (d?ards And the rat-<a*ed, <ilth9 little hotel *lerturned out to be a bootlegger Jell, ?hen + ?oe up abouteleen this

morning + gie 9ou m9 ?ord + ?asnGt si* and heada*h9, though4od no?s+Gd drun enough to put me out <or a ?ee enn9, + ?oe up<eeling--?ell, + *anGt eplain it but to sa9 + <elt light and ne?and--and *lean All ?ashed-upI At <irst + thought m9 heart ?asempt9--it <elt so <ree o< pain But as + la9 there thaning 4od that Hthat ?as thatH, + <ound m9 heart ?asnGt empt9 at all +t ?asbrimming<ull o< loe--4osh, hone9I + sound lie a 'aura 3ean 'ibbe9 hero,

donGt+K But be<ore + rang 9ou <rom the lun*h room ?here + atebrea<ast +?rote ita a spe*ial delier9 note, telling her it ?as all o<< + hadto



be <ree a*tuall9, be<ore + *ould as 9ou Eou H?illH marr9 me,?onGt9ou, enn9 hone9K + ne? this morning + had neer reall9 loedan9one

else--C

enelope )rain remained rigid <or a moment, then er9 slo?l9 shelaidboth her hands on his head, <or he had nelt and buried his <a*eagainsther sirt But as she spoe, her bro?n e9es, enormous in her?hite <a*e,?ere upon Dundee, ?ho had stepped silentl9 <rom behind the

portieres

CEes +Gll marr9 9ou, RalphI Eou ma9 *ome in no?, Mr DundeeIC

)1AT(R S(N(T((

+t ?as nearl9 nine oG*lo* Monda9 morning, and Spe*ial+nestigatorDundee sat alone in the distri*t attorne9Gs o<<i*e, impatientl9a?aitingSandersonGs arrial )oroner ri*e, ?ith the approal o< )aptainStra?no< the 1omi*ide SLuad, had set the inLuest into the murder o<3uanita

'eigh Selim <or ten oG*lo*, and there ?as mu*h that Dundee?ished tosa9 to the distri*t attorne9 be<ore that hour arried

Jhen the thoroughl9 tired and dispirited 9oung dete*tie hadreturned to



his apartment late Sunda9 a<ternoon, a<ter haing seen Ralph1ammond*ompletel9 eonerated o< an9 possible *ompli*it9 in the murder o<ita

Selim, he had <ound a telegram <rom the distri*t attorne9, <iled in)hi*ago:

C)A''(D )1+)A4 S(R+5S +''(SS MT1(R STR(T5R+4 1AM+'T (+41T T( MDAE MR+4 ST S(( BE A(RS E5AR( S('+M 3B ST 4D B5T JAT)1 E5R ST(--SAD(RSC

Jell--and Dundee grinned rue<ull9--he had been on the ;ob allright, but?ould Sanderson *onsider that he had C?at*hed his stepCK At an9rate, hehad been thorough, he *ongratulated himsel<, as he ?eighed thebigmanilla enelope *ontaining his o?n trans*ription o< the *opiousshorthand notes he had taen during the <irst hours o< theinestigation A smaller enelope held itaGs tell-tale *he*boo,

heramaing last ?ill and testament, and the still more startling noteshehad ?ritten to '9dia )arr The last t?o Dundee had retrieed <rom)arra?a9 onl9 this morning, a<ter haing submitted them to the<ingerprint epert on Sunda9

)arra?a9Gs report had rather dashed him at <irst, <or it proedthat no

other hands than itaGs--and his o?n, o< *ourse--had tou*hedeitherenelope or *ontents But he ?as *ontent no? to beliee that itahersel< had unsealed the enelope she had ins*ribed, CTo Bepened in



)ase o< M9 DeathC Jh9K 1ad she been moed b9 an impulseto gie a*lue to the identit9 o< the person o< ?hom she stood in <ear, buthad

sti<led the impulseK

Stra?n had said, too, that the little rose?ood des had been in a<airl9orderl9 *ondition, be<ore his big, o<<i*ial hands had *la?edthrough itin sear*h o< a *lue or the gun itsel< Jell, Stra?n had beenproperl9*hagrined ?hen Dundee had produ*ed the ?ill and note

CJh9 did she sti* it a?a9 in a pa* o< ne? enelopes, i< she?anted itto be <oundKC Stra?n had demanded irritabl9, and had not beenappeasedb9 DundeeGs suggestion: CBe*ause she did not ?ant '9dia, industing thedes, to see it and be alarmedC

Ees, he had been bus9 enough, but ?hat, a*tuall9, had he tosho? <or hisindustr9K 1e had ?ored up three good *ases--the <irst against'9dia)arr, the se*ond against Deter Sprague, and the third againstRalph1ammond--onl9 to hae them no*ed to pie*es almost as <astas he had*on*eied them < *ourse '9dia )arr might be l9ing to gie

Spraguean alibi, but Dundee ?as *onin*ed that she ?as telling the truthandthat she hated Sprague too mu*h to <ae an alibi <or him <*oursethere ?as al?a9s 3udge Marshall, but--



Through the *losed door *ame sounds ?hi*h Dundee presentl9identi<ied as*onne*ted ?ith enn9 )rainGs arrial--the emphati* *li* o< her

heelsFthe Lui* opening and shutting o< des dra?ers

The do?n-hearted 9oung dete*tie debated the Luestion o< tainghisperpleities out to her, but de*ided against it She probabl9?anted tohear no more o< his theories, ?as undoubtedl9 burning ?ithrighteous

indignation against him be*ause o< Ralph 1ammond Did shestill*onsider hersel< engaged to Ralph, in spite o< the <a*t that 9oung1ammond had gallantl9 insisted upon releasing her <rom herpromise assoon as he suspe*ted that it had been gien merel9 to proe her<aith inhis inno*en*eK

+t ?as a de*idedl9 unhapp9 9oung dete*tie ?hom Sandersongreeted uponhis arrial at nine oG*lo*

The ne? distri*t attorne9, ?ho had held o<<i*e sin*e oember,?as abig, good-natured, tolerant man, ?ho looed 9ounger than his %.9earsbe*ause o< his <re*les and his al?a9s rumpled mop o< sand9 hair

Butthose ?ho sought to tae adantage o< his good nature in the*ourtroom<ound themseles up against as een a la?9er and prose*utor as*ould be<ound in the ?hole state, or een in the Middle Jest



CJell, bo9IC he greeted Dundee geniall9 but ?ith an undertone o< solemnit9 in his ri*h, ;ur9-s?a9ing baritone C'oos lie ?eGe gota

sensational murder on our hands +tGs not eer9 da9 1amilton *anrate aheadline lie GBRADJAE B(''( M5RD(R(D AT BR+D4(G--toLuote a )hi*agopaper But +Gm a<raid thereGs not enough m9ster9 in it to suit9ourtastesC

Dundee grinned ?r9l9 C+Ge been prett9 do?n in the mouth all

morningbe*ause thereGs a little too mu*h m9ster9, *hie<C

Cairl9 open-and-shut, isnGt itKC Sanderson ased, obiousl9surprisedCe? Eor gets too hot <or this Selim bab9--probabl9 mied up?ith somera*eteer, ra*eteers being the <aorite bo9-<riends o< GBroad?a9bellesG, i< one *an beliee the tabloids 'ois Dunlap o<<ers her a

;obto organie a 'ittle Theater in 1amilton--?hi*h the <air ita ?ould*ertainl9 hae des*ribed as a hi* to?n and ?hi*h she ?ouldnGthae been<ound dead in i< she *ould hae helped it--C and the distri*tattorne9grinned at his o?n ?itti*ism, C--but Broad?a9 ita ;umps at it1erra*eteer s?eetie has a long arm, ho?eer, and ita gets hers

3ustl9enough, probabl9, but + ?ish to the 'ord she had *hosen someother to?nto hide in 'ois Dunlap is the <inest ?oman in 1amilton, but sheGstoo



damned promis*uous in her <riendships As it is no?, some o< thebest<riends + hae in the ?orld are mied up in this mess, een i< it isonl9 as inno*ent i*tims o< *ir*umstan*e--C

5ntil then Dundee had let his *hie< epress his pent-up*oni*tions?ithout interruption, and indeed SandersonGs *ourtroom traininghad<itted him admirabl9 <or long spee*hes But he *ould eep silentnolonger

CThat is ?hat has been ?orr9ing me, *hie<,C he interruptedC)aptainStra?n has gien the papers er9 little real in<ormation, but thetruthis + am a<raid HoneH o< 9our <riends ?as not an inno*ent i*tim o< *ir*umstan*eC

Distri*t Attorne9 Sanderson sat do?n abruptl9 in the s?iel *hairat his

des C3ust ?hat do 9ou mean, DundeeKC

C+ mean + am *onin*ed that one o< Mrs SelimGs HguestsH ?ashermurderer, but +Gd lie to tell 9ou the ?hole stor9, and let 9ou ;udge<or 9oursel<C

CM9 4odIC Sanderson e;a*ulated Slo?l9 he dre? out a

hander*hie< andmopped his <re*led bro? C+< + hadnGt had a good man9 9ears o< eperien*e ?ith *riminals, Dundee, +Gd sa9 it is obious on the<a*e o< it that none o< those <our men--3udge Marshall, Tra*e9 Miles,3ohnn9



Drae, )lie 1ammond--*ould hae *ommitted su*h a *heap,sensational*rime as murdering a hostess during a bridge game ot that +haenGt

?anted to *ommit murder m9sel< oer man9 a game o< bridge,Che added,?ith the irrepressible humor <or ?hi*h he ?as <amous Then hegroaned,the rue<ul t?inle still in his e9e: C+Gm a<raid ?eGre in <or a lot o< gruesome idding Jh9, last night, in the *lub *ar o< m9 train,threetables o< bridge pla9ers *ould s*ar*el9 pla9 a hand <or?ise*ra*ing

about the dangers o< being dumm9I Jell, bo9, no? that +Getaledm9sel< past the ?orst sho*, suppose 9ou gie me the lo?-do?nBut +?arn 9ou +Gm going to tae a po?er<ul lot o< *onin*ingC

ainstaingl9, and in the greatest detail, Dundee told the ?holestor9,beginning ?ith his arrial Saturda9 eening at the Selim house,

in*luding the ghastl9 repla9ing o< the Cdeath hand at bridgeC--aphrase,b9 the ?a9, ?hi*h the prose*utor instantl9 adopted--and ending?ithRalph 1ammondGs establishing o< an alibi, to the entiresatis<a*tion o< )aptain Stra?n, as ?ell as o< Dundee himsel< 1e ?as interrupted<reLuentl9 o< *ourse, s*o<<ingl9 at <irst, then ?ith deepeningsolemnit9

and respe*t on the part o< the distri*t attorne9

C'et me see the plan o< the house again,C he said, ?hen Dundeehad<inished CAlso that table 9ouGe ?ored up sho?ing theapproimate time



and order o< arrial o< the <our men ThansI 1mmI 1mmIC

CEou see, sir,C Dundee repeated at last, Cthe list o< possiblesuspe*ts

in*ludes '9dia )arr, Deter Sprague, 3ohn ) Drae, 3udgeMarshall,oll9 Beale, lora Miles, 3anet Ra9mond, )lie 1ammond--C

CBut oll9 and )lie ?ere in the solarium HtogetherH all the timeICSanderson ob;e*ted

CSo the9 said,C Dundee agreed CBut it is a er9 short trip <romthe

solarium b9 ?a9 o< the side por*h into itaGs bedroom And eitheroll9Beale or )lie 1ammond *ould hae made that trip, on thepretet o< speaing to ita about RalphI Motie: murder to end bla*mailaturall9 su*h a theor9 ?ould not in*lude HbothH o< them, but i< Hone o< themH ?as being bla*mailed and made use o< the pretet o<?arning ita

o< RalphGs oer?rought *ondition--C

CSpragueGs 9our manIC Sanderson interrupted ?ith relie< CMotie: ;ealous9 be*ause ita ?as dit*hing him to marr9 Ralph As <orthe gunand silen*er, it seems prett9 *lear to me that ita hersel< stole it<rom 3udge Marshall, and that Sprague got it a?a9 <rom her Eousa9 themaid, '9dia, ?ent upstairs to tell Sprague he had to pa* his

things andtae them a?a9--<or goodI Ner9 ?ellI Sprague goes do?n theba*stairs?ith the gun in his po*et, through the ba* hall into itaGsbedroom,



shoots her, bumps into the lamp, goes out b9 the ba* door, and*omesaround <ront to ;oin the part9 Eou sa9 9oursel< he has admittedto

eer9thing but the trip to itaGs room and the shooting--een tosneaing ba* to get his bag, ?hi*h + beliee also *ontained thegununtil he had a *han*e to dispose o< it on his ?a9 to his hotel in1amiltonC

Dundee shoo his head C+Gd lie to agree, *hie<, but + beliee'9dia istelling the truth She sa9s she ?as in the upstairs bedroom ?ith

Spragueand remained behind onl9 t?o or three minutes at most, to puthisshaing it into the pa*ed bag, and to *lean up the bathroombasin nher ?a9 do?n the ba*stairs she sa9s she heard 'ois DunlapGsse*ond ringand ?ent to ans?er it Sprague and 3anet Ra9mond, ?ith ?hom3anet sa9s

he stopped to tal a minute on the <ront por*h, ?ere in the diningroom Hbe<oreH '9dia entered it +Gm *onin*ed '9dia hates Spragueand?ould be glad to beliee him guilt9 o, Mr Sanderson, + donGtbeliee Sprague did it, but + do beliee it ?as SpragueGs reengethatita ?as a<raid o< ?hen she made her ?ill rida9 night aturall9she

<igured sheGd hae time to tell the person she ?as bla*mailingthat she?as through ?ith him--or her, but + beliee Sprague and ita?ereloers, een partners in bla*mail, and that she <eared he ?ouldill



her ?hen he ne? she ?as going to marr9 Ralph 1ammond andgie up theirsour*e o< in*omeC

Sanderson *onsidered <or a long minute, pulling at his <ull lo?erlipCJell, than 4od <or those pre*ious <ootprints Stra?n is buildingonIDonGt thin + <ail to <ollo? 9our reasoning that the *rime HmustHhaebeen *ommitted in the bedroom, and not <rom the ?indo? sill,but those<ootprints ma9 sae us 9et, and ?ill *ertainl9 get us through the

inLuest Eou agree, o< *ourse, that none o< all this 9ouGe told memusteen be hinted at during the inLuestK 4oodI 'etGs be going +tGsnearl9 tenC

DundeeGs ?hole soul reolted at the er9 thought o< the barbari*<ar*eo< an inLuest--the small morgue *hapel *ro?ded to the doors ?ithgoggle-e9ed, blood-loing humanit9F the stret*her ?ith its

sheeted*orpseF reporters aid o< sensation and primed ?ith Luestions?hi*h, i< ans?ered b9 indis*reet ?itnesses, ?ould de<eat the e<<orts o<poli*e anddistri*t attorne9F ne?s photographers ?ith their insatiable*amerasaimed at eer9 person *onne*ted ?ith the *ase in an9 ?a9

Mer*i<ull9, this parti*ular inLuest upon the bod9 o< 3uanita 'eighSelimpromised to be Lui*l9 oer or )oroner ri*e, in *on<eren*e ?ithSanderson, Dundee and )aptain Stra?n, had gladl9 agreed to *allonl9



those ?itnesses and etra*t <rom them onl9 su*h in<ormation astheauthorities deemed adisable

'9dia )arr, ?hose bla* eil had de<eated the ne?s *ameraleelled ather poor s*arred <a*e, ?as the <irst ?itness *alled b9 )oronerri*e,and she ?as reLuired <or the single purpose o< identi<9ing thebod9 asthat o< her mistress To t?o per<un*tor9 Luestions--C1ae 9ouan9in<ormation to gie this ;ur9 regarding the *ause and manner o<

thede*easedGs deathKC and C1ae 9ou an9 personal no?ledge o< theidentit9o< an9 person, man or ?oman, o< ?hom the de*eased stood in<ear o< herli<eKC--'9dia ans?ered a <lat CoIC and ?as then dismissed

7aren Marshall, looing <ar too 9oung to be the ?i<e o< the elderl9e-;udge, 1ugo Marshall, ?as the se*ond ?itness *alled Dr ri*e

guidedher gentl9 to a brie< re*ital o< her dis*oer9 o< the dead bod9 o<herhostess, emphasiing onl9 the <a*t that, so <ar as she *ould see,thebedroom ?as uno**upied e*ept b9 the *orpse at the time o< thedis*oer9

1e then handed her the photostati* *op9 o< a blueprint o< the

ground<loor o< the Selim house, ?ith a pen*illed ring dra?n around thebedroom 7aren <alteringl9 identi<ied it, as ?ell as the pen*il-dra?n<urniture, and ?as immediatel9 dismissed--to the pa*ed ro?s o< spe*tators and reporters



Dr ri*e himsel< too the stand net and des*ribed, in te*hni*alterms,the ?ound ?hi*h had *aused death and the *aliber o< the bullet

he hadetra*ted <rom the dead ?omanGs heart

C+ <ind, also, <rom the autops9,C he *on*luded, Cthat the bullettraeled a do?n?ard-slanting path + should add, moreoer, that +haemade ea*t mathemati*al *al*ulations, using the position o< thebod9 ando< the ?ound as a basis, and <ound that a line dra?n <rom the

?ound, andetended, at the *orre*t slant, ends at a point ."8 in*hes high,uponthe right-hand side o< the <rame o< the ?indo? nearest the por*hdoorCAnd he obligingl9 passed the mared blueprint among the ;ur9Jhen it?as in his o?n hands again, he added: C+t is impossible to statethe

ea*t distan*e the bullet traeled, more nearl9 than to sa9 theshot ?as<ired along the line + hae indi*ated, at a distan*e o< not morethan<i<teen <eet and not less than tenC

)aptain Stra?n rose and ?as permitted to Luestion the ?itness:

CDr ri*e, that blueprint sho?s that the bedroom is <i<teen <eet in

?idth, donGt itKC

CThat is *orre*tC

C1ae 9ou also measured the height o< that ?indo? sill <rom the<loorKC



C+ hae,C the *oroner ans?ered CThe height <rom <loor to sill is26in*hesC

Co?, do*tor, <rom 9our *al*ulations, ?ould it be possible <or aman*rou*hing in the open ?indo? to <ire a shot along the path 9ouhae*al*ulatedKC

C+t ?ould,C Dr ri*e ans?ered CBut as + hae pointed out, it isimpossible <or me to sa9 at ea*tl9 ?hat distan*e <rom the bod9

the shot?as <iredC

But Stra?n, o< *ourse, ?as ampl9 satis<ied And so ?ere Dundeeand thedistri*t attorne9, <or it suited their purposes admirabl9 <or thepubli*to be *onin*ed at this time that an intruding gunman hadmurdered ita

Selim

)aptain Stra?n, s?orn in, told brie<l9 o< his being *alled to thes*eneo< the *rime, o< the a*tiities o< )arra?a9, the <ingerprint epert,ando< the ehaustie sear*h o< his sLuad o< dete*ties

CDid 9ou <ind an9 person *on*ealed upon the premises, that is,

?ithinthe house itsel<, or in the garage or on the groundsKC Dr ri*eased

Co, sirC



CDid 9ou or 9our men dis*oer the ?eapon ?ith ?hi*h thede*eased ?asilledKC

Co, sirC

CDid 9ou Luestion all persons in the house at the time o< the*rime, asto ?hether or not a shot had been heardKC

C+ did The ans?er in eer9 *ase ?as that the9 heard no shotC

CAnd 9ou also Luestioned eer9 person present in an e<<ort to

pla*eresponsibilit9 <or the death o< Mrs SelimKC

C+ did + *ouldnGt <ind that an9one present had an9thing to do ?ithitC

CJho ?ere these personsKC Dr ri*e then ased

C3udge and Mrs 1ugo Marshall, Mr and Mrs Tra*e9 A Miles, Mr

andMrs 3ohn ) Drae, Mrs eter Dunlap, Miss 3anet Ra9mond, Missoll9Beale, Miss enelope )rain, Mr )lie 1ammond, Mr DeterSprague--o< e? Eor, and Mrs SelimGs maid, '9dia )arr,C )aptain Stra?nans?eredpromptl9, rolling out the names o< 1amiltonGs ele*t ?ith sonoroussatis<a*tion, ?hi*h obiousl9 had the desired e<<e*t in *onin*ing

the ;ur9 that not among those proud names, at least, *ould be <oundthe nameo< the murderer



CDid 9ou <ind on the premises an9 *lue ?hi*h 9ou *onsider o<importan*eto this ;ur9KC

C+ didI A bun*h o< <ootprints under the ?indo? 9ouGe beentalingabout 1ere are li<e-sie photographs o< Gem, do*tor And theramblerrose ines that *limb up the outside o< the ?indo? had beentornC

A<ter the photographs had been dul9 inspe*ted b9 the ;ur9 o< siDr

ri*e said: CThat is all, and than 9ou, )aptain Stra?n MrDundeeIC

As had been agreed bet?een the *oroner and the distri*tattorne9,DundeeGs testimon9, a<ter the preliminar9 Luestions, ?as *on<inedto theo<<ering o< ita SelimGs Clast ?ill and testamentC and the note to'9dia

The reporters, ?ho had obiousl9 <eared that nothing ne? ?ouldeentuate, sat up ?ith startled interest, then their pen*ils <le?, asDundee read the t?o do*uments, a<ter he had told ?hen and?here he haddis*oered them As Distri*t Attorne9 Sanderson had saidFCBetter giethe press something ne? to *he? on, but <or 4odGs sae donGtmention

that *he*boo o< itaGs +tGs d9namite, bo9--d9namiteIC

Jhile the morgue *hapel ?as still in a bu o< e*itement,Dundee ?asdismissed, and Distri*t Attorne9 Sanderson reLuested anad;ournment o<



the inLuest <or one ?ee

The poli*e ?ere urging the *ro?d upon its ?a9 be<ore it be*ame<ull9

a?are that it had been *heated o< the pleasure o< hearing, at <irsthand, the stories o< that <atal bridge and *o*tail part9 <rom theguests themseles

CTell the )arr ?oman + ?ant to spea to her,C Sanderson dire*tedDundeeCSheGll than 9ou <or res*uing her <rom the reportersC

As Dundee pushed his ?a9 through the ;am he heard a reporter

earnestl9pleading ?ith 'ois Dunlap: CBut +Gm sure 9ou *an remember the*ards ea*hpla9er held in that Gdeath hand,G Mrs Dunlap--C

)heer<ull9 sure that he *ould trust 'ois DunlapGs dis*retion anddistaste <or publi*it9, Dundee ?ent on, grinning at the reporterGsuseo< his o?n lurid phrase

T?o minutes later Sanderson, Stra?n and Dundee ?ere *losetedin Drri*eGs o?n o<<i*e ?ith '9dia )arr

Cirst, '9dia,C began Sanderson, C+ ?ant to ?arn 9ou to gie thereporters no in<ormation at all regarding the nature or etent o<9ourmistressG beLuestC

C+t ?as little enough she had, poor girl, be9ond her *lothes and a<e?pie*es o< ;e?elr9,C '9dia ans?ered stubbornl9 CAre 9ou going tolet me



do ?hat she told me to, in that noteK ot that + hold ?ithburning--C

C+ see no reason ?h9 9ou should not tae *harge o< the bod9,

'9dia, andarrange it immediatel9 <or *remation Do 9ou, )aptain Stra?nKCSanderson ans?ered

Co, sir The Lui*er the betterC

CThen, '9dia, i< )aptain Stra?n ?ill send 9ou out to the Selimhouse?ith one o< his bo9s, 9ou ma9 get the dress des*ribed in Mrs

SelimGsnote--C

CAnd the *urls she *ut o<< and had made into s?it*hes,C '9diainterrupted C+ *anGt dress m9 poor girlGs hair in a ren*h roll?ithoutthemIC

CThe *urls, too,C Sanderson agreed Co? as to the *remation--C

CMrs Miles let me *ome in earl9 to see about that,C '9diainterruptedagain CThe9 *an do it this a<ternoon, and 9ou donGt need to ?orr9aboutthe epense +Ge got mone9 enough o< m9 o?n to pa9 m9 girlGs<uneralepensesC

C4oodIC Sanderson applauded CThe ?ill shall be probated as soonaspossible, o< *ourse, but it maes it simpler i< 9ou ?ill pa9 thene*essar9 epenses no?C



C3ust a minute, *hie<,C Dundee halted the distri*t attorne9 as he?asabout to leae C5nder the *ir*umstan*es, + thin it highl9adisable

that ?e get pi*tures o< the burial dress + suggest 9ou hae '9diabringthe things to 9our o<<i*e be<ore she la9s out the bod9, and that)arra?a9 photograph the dress there, <rom all angles + shouldalso lieto hae a pi*ture o< the bod9 a<ter '9dia has <inished herseri*esC

The maidGs s*arred <a*e <lushed a deep, angr9 red, but she

o<<ered noprotest ?hen the distri*t attorne9 a**epted both o< DundeeGssuggestions

CThen 9ouGll hae )arra?a9 ?ith his *amera at m9 o<<i*e in aboutanhourKC Sanderson turned to )aptain Stra?n C'etGs sa9 t?eleoG*lo* B9the ?a9, '9dia, 9ou ma9 bring in ?ith 9ou the <e? pie*es o<

;e?elr9 9oumentioned +Gll eep them sa<el9 in m9 o<<i*es until the ?ill isprobated and the9 are turned oer to 9ouC

C+ donGt no? ?here she ept them,C '9dia ans?ered

CHJhatKHC e*laimed Bonnie Dundee

C+ said + donGt no? ?here she ept her ;e?elr9,C '9dia )arr

retortedC+t ?asnGt ?orth mu*h--not a hundred dollars altogether, +Gll bebound,be*ause ita sold her last diamond not a ?ee be<ore ?e le<t e?Eor



She o?ed so man9 bills then that the mone9 she got <or dire*tingthatpla9 at the ors9te S*hool hardl9 made a dent on themC

CDo 9ou no? ?hether the ;e?elr9 ?as ept in the house or in asa<edeposit boKC Dundee ased, e*itement sharpening his oi*e

C+t must hae been in the house, be*ause she ?ore the di<<erentpie*esan9 time she pleased,C the maid ans?ered C+ didnGt as noLuestions,and + didnGt happen to see her get it out or put it a?a9 + didnGt

eerdo mu*h lad9Gs-maid ?or <or her, lie dressing her or <iing herhair--;ust ept her *lothes and the house in order, and did ?hatlittle*ooing there ?as to do--C

C1er dressing-tableKC Dundee prodded C1er desKC

The maid shoo her head C+ ?as al?a9s straightening up the

dra?ers inboth her dressing-table and her des, and she didnGt eep the ;e?elr9 ineither one o< them pla*esC

C)aptain Stra?n, ?hen 9ou sear*hed the dressing-table and des<or thegun or an9thing o< importan*e, did 9ou hae an9 reason tosuspe*t a

se*ret dra?er in either o< themKC

Co, Bonnie The9Gre ;ust ordinar9 <a*tor9 <urniture + tappedaround<or a se*ret dra?er, o< *ourse, but there ?asnGt een an9 pla*e <orone,C Stra?n assured him ?ith an indulgent grin



sa9 that the poli*e hae thro?n out a dragnet--C and he grinnedat thetrite phrase C--<or the gunman ?ho illed Mrs Selim, and ?illo<<er a

re?ard <or the re*oer9 o< the ?eapon--a )oltGs %2 eLuipped ?ithaMaim silen*er )ome along, 4eorge, and +Gll eplain ;ust ?hatMrsSanderson and + hae in mindC

The distri*t attorne9 and Dundee strode Lui*l9 a?a9, and theman,Ra?lins, a<ter a moment o< inde*ision, trotted a<ter them

C+ donGt understand, sir, and m9 name ainGt 4eorge +tGs (lmerC

CEou donGt hae to understand an9thing, e*ept that 9ouGre not toans?eran9 Luestion that an9 reporter ass 9ou,C Sanderson retorted

Jhen the trio entered the re*eption room o< the distri*tattorne9Gs

suite in the *ourthouse Sanderson paused at enn9 )rainGs des:

CBring in 9our noteboo, enn9 This man has some in<ormationhe*onsiders importantC

A minute later Sanderson had begun to Luestion his oluntar9 buthighl9nerous ?itness

CEour nameKC

C+tGs (lmer Ra?lins, lie + told 9ou, sir,C the man protested, and<lin*hed as enn9 re*orded his ?ords in s?i<t shorthand C+t ?asm9 ?i<e



CJell, ?hat HareH 9ou getting atKC Sanderson urged

CJell, the etr9 said the poli*e had <ound some <ootprints under

the<rontmost o< them t?o side ?indo?s to MisG SelimGs bedroom, and?ent onto tal about the rose ines being tore, and straight o<< + said tothemissus, GThemGs Hm9H <ootprints, MinnieG--MinnieGs m9 ?i<eGsname--C

CHEourH <ootprintsIC Sanderson e;a*ulated, then shoo ?ith silent

laughter CThere goes Stra?nGs *ase, BonnieIC But immediatel9 he?asserious again, as the import o< this ne? eiden*e *ame to himCTell usall about it, Ra?lins Jhen did 9ou mae those <ootprintsKC

Crida9, sir ThatGs the da9 + gardened <or MisG Selim Eou see,sir,the poor little lad9 told me she ?as ept a?ae nights ?hen the9

?as ahigh ?ind, b9 the rose ines tapping against the ?indo?s Sa9sshe, G+thin the9Gs somebod9 tr9inG to git into m9 room, (lmer,G and +*ouldsee the poor little thing ?as might9 nerous an9?a9, so + didnGt?asteno time + *ut a?a9 a lot o< the rose ine and burned it ?hen +?as

burninG the garbage and papers in the G*inerator out ba*C

C+s that all, Ra?linsKC Sanderson ased

CGBout all that Gmounts to an9thing,C the laborer depre*ated CButthe9



?as somethinG else that stru* me as a little <unn9, ?hen + *ometothin o< it--C

CJellKC Sanderson prodded, as the man halted un*ertainl9

CJell, itGs lie + told 9ou, it ?as m9 ;ob to burn the papers Thats*ar-<a*e maid o< MisG SelimGs put eer9thing--garbage andtrash--in abig garbage *an outside the ba* door, and + burnt Gem up So +?asinder surprised SatGd9 morninG, ?hen + ?ent to stoe up thelaundr9

heater, to <ind somebod9Gd been meddlinG ?ith m9 dra<ts and hadlet the<ire go *lean out + had to *lean out the ashes and build a ne?<ire--C

CEouGre tr9ing to sa9, + suppose, that 9ou *ould tell b9 the ashesthatsomeone had been burning papers in the laundr9 heaterKCSanderson ased,

?ith a Lui* glan*e at DundeeGs tense <a*e

CThatGs right, sir,C Ra?lins agreed eagerl9 CEou no? ?hat ind o< ashes a mess oG paper maes--la9ers o< ?hite ashes, sir, thatinderloos lie papers 9itC

CEes, + no? And 9ou <ound la9ers o< ?hite ashes, ?hi*h 9outoo

parti*ular pains to *lean outKC Sanderson ased bitterl9

CEes, sir SoGs + *ould build a ne? <ire--C

CDid 9ou spea to the maid--as her i< sheGd been GmeddlinG ?ith9our



dra<tsGKC

CEes, sir, + didIC the man ans?ered ?ith a tra*e o< thebelligeren*e he

had undoubtedl9 sho?n to '9dia CShe said HsheH didnGt open nodampers,*laimed the heater ?as the same as usual ?hen she le<t rida9night togo to a moie So + re*in it ?as the poor lad9 hersel<, burninG uploeletters, ma9be, or some su*h tru*--C

CEouGre to eep 9our Gre*insG to 9oursel<, Ra?lins,C Sanderson *ut

inemphati*all9 CRemember, no?, 9ouGre not to tell an9bod9 else?hat9ouGe ;ust told me +< thatGs all, 9ou *an go no?, and +Gm mu*hobliged to 9ou 'eae 9our address ?ith the 9oung lad9 hereEouGll beneeded later, o< *ourseC

The relieed man hurried out o< the room on enn9Gs heels

Sandersonshrugged, then, ?hen the door had *losed, began heail9:

C+t loos lie 9ouGre right, Bonnie, about that bla*mail businessAs the astute Ra?lins sa9s, Gloe letters, ma9be, or some su*htru*G < *ourse it all <its in ?ith 9our theor9 that ita hadmadeup her mind to re<orm, marr9 Ralph 1ammond, and be a er9good girl

indeed All rightI Eou *an hae enn9 in no? + thin + no?prett9?ell ?hat 9ouGre going to as her And + ma9 as ?ell tell 9ou that?henRoger )rain sipped to?n ?ith some se*urities he ?as no?n topossess, he



hadnGt got them <rom a sa<e deposit bo, be*ause he didnGt haeone,C andSanderson pressed a button on the edge o< his des

Cenn9, do 9ou no? ?hether there is a *on*ealed sa<e in theSelimhouseKC

The girl, startled, began to shae her head, then *he*ed hersel<Cotthat + eer sa?, or ne? o< ?hen Dad and Mother and + liedthere,but--C She hesitated, her *hees turning s*arlet

Cut ?ith it, enn9IC Sanderson urged, his oi*e er9 ind

C+tGs ;ust that, i< 9ou reall9 thin thereGs a se*ret hiding pla*e inthe house, + beliee + understand something that puled me?hen ithappened,C enn9 *on<essed, her head high C+ ?as at the)ountr9 )lubone night--a Saturda9 night ?hen the ?hole *ro?d is usuall9

there <orthe dinner and dan*e +Gd been dan*ing ?ith--?ith Ralph, and?hen themusi* stopped ?e ?ent out on the por*h, ?here seeral o< our*ro?d ?eresitting +t ?as--;ust t?o or three ?ees a<ter--a<ter Dad le<t to?n'ois ?ouldnGt let me drop out o< things An9?a9, it ?as darand +heard 3udge Marshall sa9ing something about Gthe simplest and

mostingenious arrangement 9ou eer sa? < *ourse thatGs ?here theras*alept his se*urities--G + ne? the9 ?ere taling about Dad, <romthe



?a9 3udge Marshall shut up and *hanged the sub;e*t as soon ashe sa?meC

CJho ?as on the por*h, enn9KC Dundee ased tensel9

CJh9, letGs see--lora, and 3ohnn9 Drae, and )lie,C sheans?eredslo?l9 C+ thin that ?as all, besides 3udge Marshall The othershadnGt*ome out <rom dan*ing < *ourse + donGt no? ?hether or notit ?assome GarrangementG in the house--C

CJhere are 9ou going, bo9KC Sanderson *he*ed Dundee, ?ho?as alread9 onhis ?a9 to the door

CTo <ind that gun, o< *ourseIC

CJell, i< itGs tu*ed a?a9 in the Gsimplest and most ingeniousarrangement 9ou eer sa?G it ?ill sta9 put <or a ?hile,C Sanderson

saidC'9diaGs due here ?ithin hal< an hour, and 9ou donGt ?ant to missher,do 9ouKC

)1AT(R (+41T((

+t ?as ea*tl9 t?ele oG*lo* ?hen '9dia )arr, a**ompanied b9Dete*tie)ollins o< the 1omi*ide SLuad *arr9ing a small suit*ase, arriedat the



distri*t attorne9Gs o<<i*e

C+ ept m9 e9e on her eer9 minute o< the time, to see that there?asnGt

no shenanigans,C )ollins in<ormed Dundee and Sandersonimportantl9,*allous to the <a*t that the maid *ould hear him CBut + let herbringalong eer9thing she said she needed to la9 the bod9 out inJas thatrightKC

CRightIC agreed the distri*t attorne9, as Dundee opened the

suit*aseupon SandersonGs des

The ro9al blue elet dress la9 on top, neatl9 <olded Dundeeshoo outits <olds +t looed remarabl9 <resh and ne?, in spite o< the 9earsithad hung in ita SelimGs arious *lothes *losets, preseredbe*ause o<

4od alone ne? ?hat tender memories erhaps the beauti<ullittle dan*erhad intended all those 9ears that it should be her shroud

Ch, itGs loel9IC enn9 )rain, ?ho ?as looing on, *ried outinoluntaril9 C+t loos lie a ren*h modelC

C+tGs a *op9 o< a ren*h model Eou *an see b9 the label on theba* o<

the ne*,C '9dia ans?ered, her one good e9e so<tening <or enn9

CSo it isIC Dundee agreed, and too out his penni<e to snip thethreads?hi*h <astened the ?hite satin, gold-lettered label to the <ro*



CGierre Model )opied b9 SimonsonGs--e? Eor )it9G,C he readaloud,and slipped the little sLuare o< satin into the enelope *ontainingthe

murdered ?omanGs ?ill CJell, enn9, +Gm glad 9ou lie the dress,<or+Gm going to as 9ou to do the manniin stunt in it as soon as)arra?a9arries ?ith his *ameraC

enn9 turned er9 pale, but she said nothing in protest, andDundee*ontinued to unpa* the suit*ase 1is mas*uline hands looed

*lums9 asthe9 li<ted out the *ostume slip and miniature Cdan*ing setC--brassiereand step-ins--all mat*hing, o< <ilmiest ?hite *hi<<on and la*e 1is<ingers <lin*hed <rom *onta*t ?ith the s?it*h o< long, sil9 bla**urls

CShe bought them a<ter ?e *ame to 1amilton,C '9dia in<ormedhim,

pointing to the undergarments CThem bla* moirP pumps andthem ren*hsto*ings are brand ne?, too--hundred-gauge sil them sto*ingsare, andneer on her <eet--C

CRead9 <or meKC )arra?a9 had appeared in the door?a9, ?ith*amera andtripod

CEes, )arra?a9 3ust the dress, enn9 + ?ant <ull-length<ront, ba* and side ie?s o< Miss )rain ?earing this dress,)arra?a9 lashlights, o< *ourse Better tae the pi*tures inMiss



)rainGs o<<i*e,C Dundee dire*ted CEou sta9 here, '9dia + ?ant total?ith 9ou ?hile that ;ob is being doneC

CEes, sir,C '9dia ans?ered, and a**epted ?ithout thans the *hairheo<<ered

C+ suppose 9ou hae read HThe 1amilton Morning e?sH toda9,'9diaKC

C+ haeIC

CMa9 + hae that paper, *hie<K ThansI o?, '9dia, + ?ant9ou toread again the paragraphs that are headed Ge? Eor, Ma9 2.--Gand tellus i< the statements are *orre*tC

'9dia a**epted the paper and her single e9e s*anned the<ollo?ing linesobedientl9:

e? Eor, Ma9 2. =5@

Mrs 3uanita 'eigh Selim, ?ho ?as murdered Saturda9a<ternoon in 1amilton, ----, ?as no?n along Broad?a9 as ita 'eigh,*horus girl and spe*ialt9 dan*er 1er last no?n address in e? Eor?as

o -- Jest .$th St, ?here she had a three-room apartment A**ording to the superintendent, ( 3 Bla*, Miss 'eigh, as he ne? her, lied there alone e*ept <or her maid, '9dia )arr,and entertained <e? isitors



+ring Jein, publi*it9 dire*tor <or Altamont i*tures, ?hen interie?ed b9 a reporter in his rooms at the )adilla* 1otellate toda9, said that ita 'eigh had been used <or CbitsC and as a

dan*ing CdoubleC <or stars in a number o< re*ent pi*tures, in*luding Cight 'i<eC and CBo9, 1o?d9IC, both o< ?hi*h hae dan*ing seLuen*es Musi*al *omed9 programs <or the last9ear *arr9 her name onl9 on*e, in the list o< C'adies o< the (nsembleC o<the reue, CJhat o< itKC

Miss (loise endleton, head-mistress o< ors9te-on-the-

1udson, mentioned in the dispat*hes <rom 1amilton, *on<irms thereport that Mrs Selim, as she ?as no?n there, t?i*e dire*ted the annual (aster musi*al *omed9 presented b9 that <ashionable s*hool<or 9oung ladies, but *ould add nothing o< interest to the <a*tsgien aboe, be9ond asserting that Mrs Selim had proed to be an

unusuall9 *ompetent and popular dire*tor o< their amateur theatri*als

CEes, thatGs *orre*t, as <ar as it goes,C '9dia *ommented,resentmentstrong in her harsh oi*e as she returned the paper to Dundee

C1ae 9ou an9thing to addKC Dundee *aught her up Lui*l9

Co, sirIC '9dia shoo her head, her lips in a grim line Thenresentment burst through: CThe9 donGt hae to tal lie she ?as aba*number on Broad?a9, ;ust be*ause she ?as tired o< the stage andgoing in<or moiesIC



Distri*t Attorne9 Sanderson too her in hand then, pelting her?ithLuestions about itaGs e? Eor Cgentlemen <riends,C but he

made no morehead?a9 than Dundee

CJe Hno?H that ita Selim ?as a<raid o< HsomeoneHICSanderson beganagain, angril9 CJho ?as it--someone sheGd no?n in e? Eor,orsomebod9 in 1amiltonKC

C+ donGt no?IC '9dia told him <latl9

CBut 9ou do no? she ?as liing in <ear o< her li<e, donGt 9ouKCDundeeinterposed

C+--?ell, 9es, + suppose she ?as,C '9dia admitted relu*tantl9 CBut+thought she ?as ;ust a<raid to lie out there in that lonesome

housea?a9 o<< at the end o< no?hereC

CJas she a<raid o< Deter SpragueKC Sanderson shot at her

CJould she hae ased him to sta9 all night i< sheGd been a<raid o< HhimHKC '9dia demanded s*orn<ull9 CAnd ?ould she hae ased HhimH torig up a bell <rom her bedroom to mine, i< it ?as HhimH she ?as

a<raido<KC

CA bellKC Dundee e*hoed

CEes, sir +t has a *ontraption under the rug, right beside her bed,



soGs she *ould step on it and it ?ould ring in m9 room, ?hi*h ?asunderneath hers Mr Sprague bought the ?ire and stu<<, boreda holethrough her bedroom <loor, and <ied it all hissel<C

CDid an9one no? ita had taen this pre*aution to prote*thersel<KCDundee ased

CMisG 'ois did, be*ause one da9 not long ago she stepped on ita**identall9, ?hen she ?as in itaGs room The bell bued in m9roomand + *ome up to ans?er it, and ita eplained it to MisG 'oisC

So that ?as ?h9 no attempt had been made to murder ita ?hileshesleptI--Dundee told himsel< triumphantl9 or o< *ourse it ?asmore thanprobable that 'ois Dunlap had inno*entl9 spread the ne?s o<itaGsnerousness and her ingenious method o< summoning helpinstantl9

There ?as a no* at the door

C)ome inI All <inished, )arra?a9K ineI +Gd lie to see theprintsas soon as possible, and no? +Gd lie 9ou to go oer to themorgue ?ith'9dia, and ?ait there until she has the bod9 dressed in these*lothes,

and the hair done a**ording to the instru*tions Mrs Selim le<t+Gllleae the posing to 9ou, but + ?ant a <ull-length pi*ture as ?ell asahead portraitC



As '9diaGs ?or-roughened, nu*l9 hands ?ere returning the<uneral*lothes to the suit*ase, another Luestion o**urred to Dundee:

C'9dia, did 9ou no?, be<ore + Luestioned 9ou at the Miles home9esterda9, that Sprague had returned <or that bag he had le<t inthebedroom upstairsKC

1er s*arred *hee <lushed liid, but the maid ans?ered ?ithde<ianthonest9: CEes, + didI 1e spoe to me through m9 basement?indo? ;ust

be<ore 9ou *ome running do?n to tal to me 1eGd sneaed ba*,but he*ould tell <rom seeing 9our *ar outside that 9ou ?as there, and heasedme to go up and get the bag and set it outside the it*hen door<or him+ said + ?ouldnGt do itF it ?as too ris9C

CThen 9ou ?ere pretending to be asleep ?hen + entered 9our

roomKC

CEes, + ?asI But + HhadH been asleep be<ore Mr Sprague *alledme Jhile9ou ?as ding-donging at me about ita burning m9 <a*e + heardMrSprague open the it*hen door 1e had a e9 ita had gie him,soGs he*ould slip in unnoti*ed i< he happened to *ome ?hen ita had

other*ompan9 1e didnGt hardl9 mae an9 noise at all, but + heard it,be*ause+ ?as listening <or it EouGd le<t the door to the basement stairsopen, and m9 door, too, so + heard himC



CDid 9ou hear him *ome do?nKC

CEes, + didI ThereGs a board on the ba*stairs that sLueas, and +heard

it plain, ?hile 9ou ?as still at me, hammer and tongs,C '9diaans?eredC1e ?as in the house not moreGn t?o minutes, all told, and ?hen+<igured he ?as sa<el9 out, + ?ent upstairs ?ith 9ou to sho? 9outhepresents +Gd gie ita a<ter she burnt me, to proe +Gd <orgieherC

CJh9 didnGt 9ou tell me, '9diaK Jh9 did 9ou prote*t SpragueK +no? 9oudonGt lie him,C Dundee puled

C+ ?asnGt thining about him,C '9dia told him <latl9 C+ ?asthiningabout ita + didnGt ?ant an9 s*andal on her, and + ne? ?hat thepoli*eand the ne?spapers ?ould sa9 i< the9 <ound out Mr Sprague had

beensta9ing all night sometimesC

CAre 9ou prepared to s?ear Sprague had time to do nothing butgo up tothe bedroom and get his bagKC

C+ amIC

Jhen '9dia and )arra?a9 had le<t together, Dundee rose andaddressed thedistri*t attorne9:

C+Gm going out to the Selim house no?, to loo <or that se*rethiding



pla*e ?here Roger )rain ept his se*urities, and ?hi*h 3udgeMarshalleidentl9 displa9ed to ita, as one o< the *harms o< the house?hen she

GrentedG itC

CJh9 not simpl9 telephone 3udge Marshall and as him ?hereand ?hat itisKC Sanderson ased reasonabl9

CDo 9ou thin heGd tellKC Dundee retorted CThe old bo9Gs no <ool(eni< he didnGt ill ita himsel< and hide the gun there, m9 Luestion

?ouldthro? him into a pani* o< <ear lest one o< his best <riends haddone ;ust that o, +Gll <ind it m9sel<, i< itGs all right ?ith 9ouIC

But a<ter a solid hour o< hard and <ruitless ?or, Bonnie Dundee?as<or*ed to admit rue<ull9 to himsel< that his parting ?ords to thedistri*t attorne9 might hae been the 9outh<ul and empt9 boast

thatSanderson had eidentl9 *onsidered them

or no?here in the house Roger )rain had built and in ?hi*h itaSelimhad been murdered *ould the dete*tie <ind an9thing remotel9resemblinga *on*ealed sa<e The t?o plain*lothesmen ?hom Stra?n haddetailed to

guard the house and to *ontinue the sear*h <or the missing gunandsilen*er looed on ?ith un*on*ealed amusement as Dundeetapped ?alls,<loors and *eilings in a house that seemed to be e*eptionall9 <reeo<



ar*hite*tural e**entri*ities

inall9 Dundee gre? tired o< their ribald *omments and *urtl9ordered

them to mae a ne? and ehaustie sear*h o< the unusedportions o< thebasement--those dar earth bans, ?ith their oerhead net?orso< ?aterand drain pipes, heail9 insulated *ables o< ele*tri* ?ires,*ob?ebb9ra<ters and rough sheles holding empt9 <ruit ;ars and liLuorbottles--?hi*h *ontrasted sharpl9 ?ith the neatl9 *eiled and*ement-<loored spa*e deoted to <urna*e, laundr9 and maidGs

room Dundeehimsel< had gien those regions onl9 a *ursor9 inspe*tion ?ith his<lashlight, <or it ?as highl9 improbable that ita Selim ?ould haemadeuse o< a se*ret hiding pla*e <or her ;e?elr9 and aluable papers, i< that hiding pla*e ?as lo*ated in su*h dar, a?esomesurroundings

o The hiding pla*e, i< it reall9 eisted--and it must eist--had

been?ithin eas9 rea*h o< ita dressing and bede*ing hersel< <or apart9, or'9dia )arr *ould not hae been ept in *omplete ignoran*e o< itslo*ation

Jith that *oni*tion in mind, Dundee returned to itaGs bedroom,to?hi*h he had alread9 deoted at least hal< an hour othing in the

big*lothes *loset, ?here lora Miles had been hiding ?hile ita ?asbeingmurdered o se*ret dra?ers in des or dressing-table or bedsidetable



o <alse bottom in boudoir *hair or *haise longue 1e had eentaeneer9 boo out o< the <our-shel< boo*ase ?hi*h stood against the?est

?all near the north *orner o< the room, and had satis<ied himsel<thatno boo ?as a lea<less <ae

1is minute inspe*tion o< the bathroom and ba* hall, upon ?hi*hitaGsbedroom opened, had proed as <ruitless, although he hadremoed eer9dra?er <rom the big linen press ?hi*h stood in the hall, and

measuredspa*es to a <ra*tion o< an in*h As <or the ?alls, the9 ?ere, e*ept<orthe doors, unbroen epanses o< tinted plaster

And 9et--

1e stepped into the *lothes *loset again, hammer in hand <or a<resh

tapping o< the *edar-board ?alls othing here And then hetappedagain, his ear against the end ?all o< the *loset--the ?all <arthest<rom the side por*h

EesI There ?as a <aintl9 hollo? e*ho o< the hammer stroesI

(*itement blaing high again, he too the tape measure ?ith?hi*h he

had proided himsel< on his ?a9 out, and *al*ulated the length o<the*loset <rom end to end Si <eet

(merging <rom the *loset he *losed his e9es in an e<<ort to re*allin



ea*t detail the ar*hite*tGs blueprint o< the lo?er <loor, ?hi*h)oronerri*e had submitted to his ;ur9 at the inLuest that morning Ees,that

?as rightI The inner end ?all o< itaGs *lothes *loset ?as also theba*o< the guest *loset in the little <o9er that la9 bet?een itaGsbedroomand the main hall

Jithin ten minutes, mu*h la9ing-on o< the tape measure hadprodu*ed astartling result +nstead o< haing a ?all in *ommon, the guest

*losetand itaGs *lothes *loset ?ere separated b9 ea*tl9 eleen in*hesIJh9the ?aste spa*eK The blueprint, bearing the imprint o< thear*hite*ts,1ammond 1ammond, sho?ed no su*h ?alled-up *ubb9holeI

(ultantl9, Dundee again entered itaGs *loset and ?ent oereer9 in*h

o< the narro?, horiontal *edar boards, ?hi*h <ormed the end?all Buthe met ?ith no re?ard ot through this ?ormanlie, solidl9*onstru*ted?all had an opening been made

But in the <o9er *loset he read a di<<erent stor9 +ts ba* ?all hadanamateurish loo This *loset ?as not *edar-lined, as ?as itaGs,

but ?aspainted throughout in so<t ior9 But it ?as the ba* ?all o< the*losetin ?hi*h Dundee ?as interested 5nlie the other ?alls, ?hi*h?ere o<



plaster, the ba* ?as *onstru*ted o< si-in*h-?ide boards--the*heapnesso< the lumber not *on*ealed b9 its *oat o< ior9 paint osel<-respe*ting builder had put in that ?all o< broad, horiontal

boards

And then, dire*tl9 beneath the shel< ?hi*h ?as set regulationheight, ;ust aboe the pole on ?hi*h s?ung a doen *oat hangers,Dundee <ound?hat he ?as looing <or

A short length o< the *heap board, a Lueer s*rap to hae been

used eenin so shodd9 a ;ob as that ?all ?as (ight in*hes long And setsLuare in the *enter o< the ?all, ;ust belo? the shel< and pole +<hehad not been looing <or something odd, ho?eer, Dundeea*no?ledged tohimsel<, he ?ould not hae noti*ed it Did an9one eer noti*e theba*?alls o< *losetsK

Sure o< the result, he pressed ?ith his <inger tips upon the lo?erendo< that short pie*e o< board And slo?l9 it s?ung in?ard, the topslanting out?ard

H1e had <ound the se*ret hiding pla*eH And Dundee silentl9agreed ?ith3udge Marshall that it ?as Cthe simplest and most ingenious

arrangement9ou eer sa?,C <or it ?as nothing more nor less than a shel< setbet?eenthe t?o *losets, in those eleen in*hes o< una**ounted <or spa*eI



indi*ation ?hateer that it ?as other?ise than ?hat it seemed--part o< a*heapl9 built ?all But DundeeGs <lashlight pla9ed upon thebeeled

edges o< both the short board and the t?o neighboring plansbet?een?hi*h it ?as <itted The pioting arrangement ?as o< the simplest,thesmall ni*el-plated pie*es being set into the short board and theothert?o plans ?ith small s*re?s ?hi*h did not pier*e the paintedoutsidesur<a*e

1is *uriosit9 satis<ied, Dundee stepped out o< the *loset into thetin9<o9er 1e ?as about to leae ?hen a terri<i* truth *rashed throughhismind and <roe his <eet to the <loor

H< *ourse the gun and silen*er ?ere not thereIH

This ?as the Hguest *losetHI +n it had hung the hat o< eer9person ?hohad been itaGs guest, either <or bridge or *o*tails, that <atalSaturda9 a<ternoonI

HAnd to this *loset, to retriee hat, sti* or--in the *ase o< the?omen, summer *oat and hat--had *ome eer9 person ?ho hadbeenLuestioned and then sear*hed b9 the poli*eH

Dundee tried to re*apture the pi*ture o< the stampede ?hi*h had<ollo?edupon his permission <or all guests to go to their homes But it ?asuseless 1e had sta9ed in the liing room ?ith Stra?n, had taennot the



slightest interest in the s*ramble <or hats, *oats and sti*s orStra?n had preiousl9 assured him that the guest *loset hadbeenthoroughl9 sear*hed

So Lui*l9 that he <elt slightl9 di9, DundeeGs thoughts ra*edaroundthe ne? dis*oer9 This *hanged eer9thing, o< *ourse An9 oneo< hal< adoen persons *ould hae arried ?ith the gun and silen*er--nots*re?edtogether, o< *ourse, be*ause o< the ungainl9 length--and seiedthe

opportunit9 presented b9 itaGs being alone in her bedroom toshoot herJhat easier, then, than to hide the ?eapon on this se*ret shel<,theCdoorC o< ?hi*h 9ielded to the slightest pressureK And ?hat easierthanto retriee the ?eapon a<ter permission had been granted to all toreturn to their homesK (as9 enough to manage to go alone to the*loset

<or a hat, the etra minute o< time unnoti*ed in the generale*itement+t had been itall9 ne*essar9, too, to retriee the ?eapon, sin*ean9inno*ent member o< that part9 might hae remembered later tomention these*ret hiding pla*e to the poli*e--se*ret no longer sin*e 3udgeMarshallhad gossiped about it

Then another thought boiled up and demanded attention +n thene?theor9, ?hat pla*e did the Cbang or bumpC hae--that noise ?hi*hlora



Miles, *on*ealed in itaGs *loset, had diml9 heardK Dundee hadbeenpositie, ?hen '9dia had dis*oered the shattered ele*tri* bulb inthe

big brone lamp that its position in itaGs room indi*ated theprogresso< the <light o< the murderer--<light diagonall9 a*ross the roomto?ardthe ba* hall But no?--

A little dashed, Dundee returned to the bedroom The big lamp?as ?herehe had <irst seen it--about a <oot be9ond the ?indo? nearest the

por*h,and at the head o< the *haise longue ?hi*h ?as set bet?een thet?o ?est?indo?s, ?here, a**ording to '9dia, the lamp al?a9s stood Thetoo-long*ord la9 sla*l9 along the <loor near the ?est ?all, and etendedto thedouble outlet on the baseboard behind the boo*ase HA sla**ordIH

Do?n on his hands and nees Dundee ?ent, to peer under thelo? bottomshel< o< the boo*ase EesI The pronged plug o< the lamp *ordhadbeen ;ered almost out o< the baseboard outletI +t ?as eas9 toisualie?hat had happened: The murderer, a<ter <iring the shot, hadinoluntaril9 taen a step or een seeral steps ba*?ard, until

his<oot had *aught in the loop o< ele*tri* *ord, *ausing the big lampto bethro?n iolentl9 against the ?all near ?hi*h it stood But ?hoK

HAn9 one o< hal< a doen peopleIH But--H?hoHK



)1AT(R +(T((

1aing ti*eted the big brone lamp, ?hi*h he had brought ?ithhim <romthe Selim house, and lo*ed it a?a9 in the room deoted toCehibits <orthe state,C Bonnie Dundee hurried into enn9Gs o<<i*e, primed ?iththe

ne?s o< his dis*oer9 o< the se*ret hiding pla*e and eager to la9hisne? theor9 be<ore the distri*t attorne9

CBillGs gone,C enn9 interrupted her s?i<t t9ping to in<orm him CTo)hi*ago 1e had onl9 <i<teen minutes to mae the three oG*lo*train,a<ter he re*eied a ?ire sa9ing his mother is not epe*ted to lie1e

tried to rea*h 9ou at the Selim house, but one o< )aptainStra?nGs mensaid 9ou had le<tC

C+ stopped on m9 ?a9 in to get a bite to eat,C Dundee eplainedme*hani*all9 C+Gd dashed o<< ?ithout m9 lun*h, 9ou no?C

CDid 9ou <ind the gun and silen*erKC enn9 ased

Co Jhoeer used it Saturda9 a<ternoon ?aled out o< the house?ith it,in plain ie? o< the poli*e, and still has it Ner9 *onenient, too,in *ase another murder seems to be epedient--or amusingC



CDonGt ;oeIC enn9 shuddered CBut ?hat in the ?orld do 9oumeanKC

Brie<l9 Dundee told her, minimiing the hard ?or, the

*on*entratedthining, and the meti*ulous use o< a tape measure ?hi*h hadresulted inthe dis*oer9 o< the shel< bet?een itaGs bedroom *loset and theguest*loset in the little <o9er

C+ see,C enn9 agreed, her hus9 oi*e slo? and ?eighted ?ithhorror

She sat in daed thought <or a minute CThat rather brings ithome to m9*ro?d--doesnGt itK To thin that Dad--I robabl9 eer9one atthepart9--e*ept me--had heard all about DadGs Gsimple andingeniousGarrangement <or hiding the se*urities he sent on to e? Eorbe<ore heran a?a9 And no outsiders--nobod9 but HusH--had a legitimate

e*use<or entering that *loset ot een Deter Sprague +tGs one o<hisa<<e*tations not to ?ear a hat--C

C+s itKC Dundee poun*ed CEouGre sure he ?ore no hat thata<ternoonK Did9ou noti*e him ?hen he le<t a<ter + had dismissed 9ou allKC

CEes,C enn9 a*no?ledged honestl9 C+ paid attention to him,be*ause +?as hating him so + belieed then that he ?as the murderer, and+ ?as<urious ?ith 9ou and )aptain Stra?n <or not arresting him 1e?as



the <irst to leae--;ust ?aled straight outF ?ouldnGt een stop total?ith 3anet Ra9mond, ?ho ?as tr9ing to get a ?ord ?ith him +sa? him

start to?ard Sheridan Road--?aling 1e had no *ar, 9ou no?C

CDid 9ou obsere the othersKC Dundee demanded eagerl9 CDo9ou no? ?ho?ent HaloneH to the guest *losetKC

enn9 shoo her head C(er9bod9 ?as milling around in the hall,and +paid no attention 'ois said she ?ould drie me home, and then +

?ent into as 9ou to let me sta9 behind ?ith 9ou--C

C+ remember 'isten, enn9I +Gm going to tell 9ou somethingelse thatnobod9 no?s 9et but Sanderson, '9dia and me + donGt hae toas 9ounot to tell an9 o< 9our <riends Eou no? ?ell enough thatan9thing 9ou

learn <rom either Sanderson or me is stri*tl9 *on<identialC

enn9 nodded, her <a*e er9 ?hite and her bro?n e9es big ?ithmiser9

C+ hae eer9 reason to beliee that ita Selim ?as a bla*mailer,thatshe *ame to 1amilton <or the epress purpose o< bleedingsomeone she had

no?n be<ore, or someone on ?hom she had Gthe goodsG <romsomeunder?orld sour*e or other At an9 rate, ita baned tenthousandm9sterious dollars--.,000 on April 28, and .,000 on Ma9 . +taled to



Drae last night, and + hae his ?ord <or it that the mone9 ?as inbillso< ar9ing denomination--none large--?hen ita presented it <ordeposit

There<ore it seems *lear to me that ita got the mone9 right herein1amiltonF other?ise it ?ould hae *ome to her in the <orm o<*he*s ordra<ts or mone9 orders And it seems eLuall9 *lear to me that shedidnot bring that large amount o< *ash <rom e? Eor ?ith her, orshe ?ouldhae deposited it in a lump sum in the ban immediatel9 a<ter

herarrialC

CEes,C enn9 agreed CBut ?h9 are 9ou telling HmeHK < *ourse+Gminterested--C

CBe*ause + ?ant 9ou to tell me the <inan*ial status o< ea*h o< 9our<riends,C Dundee said gentl9 C+ no? ho? hard it is <or 9ou--C

CEou *ould <ind out <rom others, so + might as ?ell tell 9ou,Cenn9interrupted, ?ith a ?ear9 shrug C3udge Marshall is ?ell-to-do,and7arenGs <ather--her mother is dead--settled "00,000 on her?hen shemarried She has *omplete *ontrol o< her o?n mone9 TheDunlaps are

the ri*hest people in 1amilton, and hae been <or t?o or threegenerations 'ois ?as G<irst-<amil9G but poor ?hen she marriedeter,but heGs been giing her an allo?an*e o< 20,000 a 9ear <orseeral



9ears--not <or running the house, but <or her personal use)lothes,*harities, hobbies, lie the 'ittle Theater she brought ita here toorganie--C

C+ ?ouldnGt sa9 she spends a great deal o< it on dress,C Dundeeinterrupted ?ith a grin

C'ois doesnGt gie a hang ho? she loos or ?hat an9one thins o< her--?hi*h is probabl9 one reason she is the best-loed ?oman inour*ro?d,C enn9 retorted lo9all9 CThe MilesG mone9 is reall9 loraGs,and she has the reputation o< being one o< the shre?dest

businessGmenG in to?n Jhen she married Tra*e9 nearl9 eight 9ears ago,he ?as ;ust a salesman in her <atherGs business--the biggest dair9 in thestate G)loerblossomG butter, *ream, mil and *heese, 9ouno? Jell, ?hen lora married Tra*e9, her <ather retired andletTra*e9 run the business <or lora, and heGs still managing it, butlora

is the real head o?, letGs see h, 9es, the DraesI3ohnn9is i*e president o< the 1amilton ational Ban, as 9ou no?, ando?nsa big blo* o< the sto* )arol9n has no mone9 o< her o?n,e*ept ?hat3ohnn9 gies her, and + rather thin he isnGt an9 too generous--C

CThe9 donGt get along er9 ?ell together, do the9KC

C-noIC enn9 agreed relu*tantl9 CEou see, 3ohnn9 Drae ?assimpl9 not*ut out <or loe and marriage 1eGs a born as*eti*, ?ould haebeen a



mon t?o or three *enturies ago, but he *ares as mu*h <or)arol9n as he*ould <or an9 ?oman The 1ammond bo9s hae some inheritedmone9, and

)lie has made a big <inan*ial su**ess o< ar*hite*ture Thatleaesonl9 3anet and oll9, doesnGt itK oll9Gs an orphan and hasbarrelso< mone9, and ?ill hae barrels more ?hen her aunt, ?ith ?homshe lies,dies and leaes her the <ortune she has al?a9s promised herC

CAnd 3anet Ra9mondKC

C3anetGs <ather is prett9 ri*h--o?ns a big ?ire-<en*e <a*tor9, but3anethas onl9 a reasonable allo?an*e,C enn9 ans?ered CAs <or me--+Gm Her9Hri*h: + get thirt9-<ie ?hole dollars a ?ee, to support m9sel< andMother onC

Dundee remained thought<ull9 silent <or a long minute Then: CAll

9ougirls are alumnae o< ors9te-on-the-1udson, and ita Selim *amehereimmediatel9 a<ter she had dire*ted a ors9te pla9 Tell me,enn9--?as an9 o< the 1amilton girls eer in disgra*e ?hile in theors9te S*hoolKC

enn9Gs <a*e <lamed C+Gm sorr9 to disappoint 9ou, but so <ar as +no?

there ?as neer an9thing o< the sort < *ourse ?e all graduateddi<<erent 9ears, e*ept 7aren and +, and + might not hae heard--ButnoIC she denied ehementl9 CThere ?asnGt an9 s*andal on a1amilton girleerI +Gm sure o< itIC



But her er9 ehemen*e *onin*ed Bonnie Dundee that she ?asnot at allsure

1e looed at his ?at*h our oG*lo* B9 this time ita Selim--tin9*old bod9, ro9al blue elet dress, bla* *urls piled high in anold-<ashioned Cren*h roll,C bullet-torn heart--?ere nothing morethan alittle heap o< gre9 ashes Jould '9dia )arr hae them put in asealedurn and *arr9 them about ?ith her al?a9sK

C+Gm going out no?, enn9, and + shanGt be ba* toda9,C he toldthe girl?ho had returned to her <urious t9ping C+Gll telephone in about anhourto see i< an9thing has *ome up B9 the ?a9, ho? do + get to theDunlap houseKC

C+tGs in the Brent?ood se*tion Eou no?--that *luster o< hills

aroundMirror 'ae Most o< the *ro?d lie out there--the Draes, theMileses,the Beales, the Marshalls The Dunlap house stands on thehighest hillo< all +tGs gre9 stone, a little lie a ren*h *hateau Je used tolieout there, too, in a )olonial house m9 motherGs <ather built, butDad

persuaded Mother to sell, ?hen he ?ent into that rimroseMeado?senture The Ra9monds bought it But ?h9 do 9ou ?ant to see'oisKC



CThans mu*h, enn9 + donGt no? ?hat + should do ?ithout9ou,C Dundeesaid, ?ithout ans?ering her Luestion, and rea*hed <or his hat

A<ter ten minutes o< driing, the last mile o< ?hi*h had *ir*led asmooth siler *oin o< a lae, Dundee stopped his *ar and let hise9esroe appre*iatiel9 1e had made this trip the da9 be<ore toLuestion'9dia, alread9 installed as nurse <or the Miles *hildren, but he hadbeen in too great a hurr9 then to see mu*h o< this se*tion*onse*ratedto 1amiltonGs so*iall9 ele*t

4eorgian C*ottage,C Spanish ha*ienda, +talian illa, Tudormansion--that?as the Miles homeF )olonial mansion ?here enn9 had on*eliedF gre9stone *hateau ot one o< them blatantl9 ne? or mared ?iththedollar sign Dundee sighed a little eniousl9 as he turned his *arinto

the ?inding drie?a9 that led up the highest hill to the Dunlaphome

'ois Dunlap betra9ed no surprise ?hen the butler led Dundee tothe<lag-stoned upper terra*e oerlooing Mirror 'ae, ?here she ?ashaingtea ?ith her three *hildren and their goerness or a momentthe

dete*tie had the illusion that he ?as in (ngland again

C1o? do 9ou do, Mr DundeeK This is Miss Burden M9 threeo<<spring--eter the third, (leanor, and Bobb9 Jill 9ou pleasetae



the *hildren to the pla9room no?, Miss BurdenK Than 9ouITea, MrDundeeK r shall + order 9ou a highballKC

Cothing, thans,C Dundee ans?ered, grate<ul <or her <riendlinessbutnonplussed b9 it ot <or the <irst time he <elt a si* distaste <orthepro<ession he had *hosen

C+tGs all oer,C 'ois Dunlap said in a lo? oi*e, as the butlerretreated C'9dia made her loo er9 beauti<ul + thought it?ould be

rather horrible, haing to see her, as the poor *hild reLuested inhernote to '9dia, but +Gm glad no? + did She looed as s?eet and9oung andinno*ent as she must hae been ?hen she <irst ?ore the ro9alblueeletC

C+Gm glad,C Dundee said sin*erel9 Then he leaned to?ard her

a*ross thetea table CMrs Dunlap, ?ill 9ou please tell me ;ust ho? 9oupersuadedMrs Selim to *ome to 1amilton--so <ar <rom Broad?a9KC

CJh9 *ertainl9IC 'ois Dunlap looed puled CBut it reall9 did nottaemu*h persuasion a<ter + sho?ed her some group photographs ?ehad made

?hen ?e ors9te girls put on GThe BeggarGs peraG here last*tober--abene<it per<orman*e <or the ors9te Alumnae S*holarship <undC

Jith di<<i*ult9 Dundee *ontrolled his e*itement CMa9 + see thosephotographs, pleaseKC



C+ had to hunt Luite a bit <or them,C his hostess apologied tenminuteslater, as she spread the gloss9 prints o< hal< a doen photographs

<orDundeeGs inspe*tion CDo 9ou no? GThe BeggarGs peraGKC

C3ohn 4a9--eighteenth *entur9, isnGt itK As + remember it, it isLuite--C and Dundee hesitated, grinning

CBa?d9KC 'ois laughed Ch, er9I Je *ouldnGt hae got a?a9?ith it i< it hadnGt been a *lassi* As it ?as, ?e had to tone do?n some o<

thenaughtiest passages and songs But it ?as lots o< <un, and thebo9sen;o9ed it hugel9 be*ause it gae them an opportunit9 to ?eartightsatin bree*hes and la*e ru<<les This is m9 husband, eter 1eadoredbeing the high?a9man, GRobin o< BagshotG,C and she pointed out asto*9,

belligerent-looing man near the end o< the long ro? o< *ostumedpla9ers, in a photograph ?hi*h sho?ed the entire *ast

CEou sa9 that Mrs Selim a**epted 9our proposal Ha<terH she sa?thesephotographsKC Dundee ased C1ad she re<used be<oreKC

CEes +Gd gone to e? Eor <or the annual (aster la9 ?hi*h theors9te

S*hool puts on, be*ause +Gm intensel9 interested in semi-pro<essionaltheatri*als,C 'ois eplained Cita had done a splendid ;ob ?iththepla9 the 9ear be<ore, and + spoe to her, a<ter this 9earGs sho??as



oer, about *oming to 1amilton She ?as not at all interested, butpolite and s?eet about it, so + inited her to hae lun*h ?ith methenet da9, and sho?ed her these photographs o< our o?n pla9 in

the hopethat the9 ?ould mae her tae the idea more seriousl9 Je hadborro?ed a'ittle Theater dire*tor <rom )hi*ago and + ne? ?e had done areall9good ;ob o< GThe BeggarGs peraG The lo*al reie?s--C

CThese GstillsG loo etremel9 pro<essional + donGt ?onder thatthe9

interested ita,C Dundee *ut in CJill 9ou tell me ?hat she saidKC

CShe rather startled me,C 'ois Dunlap *on<essed C+ <irst sho?edherthis pi*ture o< the ?hole *ast, and as + ?as eplaining the pla9 abit--she didnGt no? GThe BeggarGs peraG--she almost snat*hedthephotograph out o< m9 hands As she studied it, her loel9 bla*e9es

gre? per<e*tl9 enormous +Ge neer seen her so e*ited sin*e--C

CJhat did she sa9KC Dundee interrupted tensel9

CJh9, she said nothing ;ust at <irst, then she began to laugh intheLueerest ?a9--almost h9steri*all9 + ased her ?h9 she ?aslaughing--+?as a little hu<<9, +Gm a<raid--and she said the men looed so

adorabl9*on*eited and <unn9 Then she began to as the names o< thepla9ers +told her that GMa*heathG--heGs the high?a9man hero, 9ou no?--?as pla9ed



b9 )lie 1ammondF that m9 eter ?as GRobin o< BagshotG, that3ohnn9Drae ?as another high?a9man, GMat o< the MintG, that Tra*e9Miles

pla9ed the ;ailor, G'o*itG--C

CDid she sho? more interest in one name than anotherKC

CEes Jhen + pointed out 3udge Marshall as Gea*humG, the <en*e,she*ried out suddenl9: GJh9, + no? himI + met him on*e on apart9 +she reall9 a H;udgeHKG and she laughed as i< she ne? something

er9<unn9 about 1ugo--as no doubt she did 1e ?as an ineterateGlad9-illerG be<ore his marriage, as 9ou ma9 hae heardC

CDo 9ou thin her <irst e*itement ?as oer seeing 3udge Marshallamongthe pla9ersKC Dundee ased

Co,C 'ois ans?ered, a<ter *onsidering a moment C+Gm sure she

didnGtnoti*e him until + pointed him out The <a*e in this group thatseemedto interest her most ?as lora MilesG lora pla9ed the part o<G'u*9'o*itG, the ;ailorGs daughter, and 7aren Marshall the other<emininelead, Goll9 ea*humG, 9ou no? But it ?as loraGs pi*ture shelingered

oer, so + sho?ed her this pi*ture,C and 'ois Dunlap rea*hed <ortheportrait o< lora Miles, unepe*tedl9 beauti<ul in the eighteenth*entur9 *ostume--tight bodi*e and billo?ing sirts

CShe Luestioned 9ou about Mrs MilesKC Dundee ased



CEes All sorts o< Luestions--her name, and ?hether she ?asmarried andthen ?ho her husband ?as, and i< she had had stage eperien*e,C

'oisans?ered *ons*ientiousl9 CShe eplained her interest b9 sa9ingloralooed more lie a pro<essional a*tress than an9 o< the others,and that?e should gie her a real *han*e ?hen ?e got our 'ittle Theatergoing +ased her i< that meant she ?as going to a**ept m9 o<<er, and shesaid

she might, but that she ?ould hae to tal it oer ?ith a <riend<irst3ust be<ore midnight she telephoned me at m9 hotel that she hadde*idedto a**ept the ;obC

DundeeGs heart leaped +t ?as er9 eas9 to guess ?ho thatC<riendC ?asIBut he *ontrolled his e*itement, ased his net Luestion

*asuall9:

CDid she sho? parti*ular interest in an9 other pla9erKC

CEes She ased a number o< Luestions about oll9 Beale, andseemedin*redulous ?hen + told her that oll9 and )lie ?ere engagedoll9pla9ed GMrs ea*humG, and ?as a riot in the part But itaGs

intuition ?as *orre*t lora *arried o<< the a*ting honors h,9es,she also ased, Luite nael9, i< all m9 <riends ?ere ri*h, too, and*ould help support a 'ittle Theater + reassured her on that pointC



CAnd,C Dundee re<le*ted silentl9, Cupon a point mu*h moreimportant toita SelimC Aloud he said: C+ donGt see H9ouH among the *astC

Ch, + haenGt a grain o< talent,C 'ois Dunlap laughed C+ *anGt a*t<ort?o *ents--*an +, eter darlingK 1ereGs the redoubtable GRobino< BagshotG in person, Mr Dundee--m9 husbandIC

The dete*tie rose to shae hands ?ith the man he had been tooabsorbedto see or hear approa*hing

CEouGre the man <rom the distri*t attorne9Gs o<<i*eKC eter Dunlaps*o?led, his hand barel9 tou*hing DundeeGs C+ suppose 9ouGretr9ing toget at the bottom o< the m9ster9 o< ?h9 m9 ?i<e brought thatSelim?oman--C

CDonGt *all her Gthat Selim ?omanG, eterIC 'ois Dunlap

interrupted ?ithmore sharpness than Dundee had eer seen her displa9 CEouneer liedthe poor girl, ?ere neer ;ust to her--C

CJell, it loos as i< m9 hun*h ?as *orre*t, doesnGt itKC the sto*9,rugged-<a*ed man retorted C+ told 9ou at the beginning to pa9her o<< and send her ba* to e? Eor--C

CEou ne? + *ouldnGt do that, een to please 9ou, dear,C 'ois saidCButplease donGt letGs Luarrel about poor ita again SheGs dead no?,and +?ant to do an9thing + *an to help bring her murderer to ;usti*eC



CThereGs nothing 9ou *an do, 'ois, and + hope Mr--ah--Dundee?ill not<ind it ne*essar9 to Lui 9ou againC

Dundee rea*hed <or his hat C+ hope so, too, Mr Dunlap B9 the?a9,9ou are president o< the )hamber o< )ommer*e, arenGt 9ouKC

CEes, + amI And ?eGre haing a meeting tonight, at ?hi*h thatSpraguemanGs bid on maing a histori*al moie o< 1amilton ?ill be turneddo?n--unanimousl9 o? that the Selim ?oman isnGt here to

amp m9<ello?-members into doing an9thing she ?ants, + thin + *ansa<el9promise 9ou that Deter Sprague ?ill hae no <urther business in1amilton--unless it is poli*e businessIC

CThans <or the tip, Mr Dunlap,C Dundee said eenl9 C+ hope 9ouen;o9ed 9our <ishing trip Jhere do 9ou <ish, sirKC

CA ta*t<ul ?a9 o< asing <or m9 alibi, ehKC Dunlap ?as heail9sar*asti* C+ le<t rida9 a<ternoon <or m9 o?n *amp in themountains, upin the north?est part o< the state + droe m9 o?n *ar, ?entalone,spent the ?ee-end alone, and got ba* this noon + read o< themurderin a paper + pi*ed up in a illage on m9 ?a9 home + didnGt lieita

Selim, and + donGt gie a damn about her being murdered, e*eptthat m9?i<eGs name is in all the papers An9 LuestionsKC

Cone, thansIC Dundee ans?ered *urtl9, then turned to 'oisDunlap ?ho



?as ?at*hing the t?o men ?ith troubled, embarrassed e9es C+am er9grate<ul to 9ou, Mrs Dunlap, <or 9our indnessC

The dete*tieGs angr9 resentment o< eter DunlapGs attitudelasted untilhe had *ir*led Mirror 'ae and ?as on the road into 1amiltonThen*ommonsense interened Dunlap ?as undoubtedl9 deoted tohis ?i<eenn9 had said that he had Cneer looed at another ?omanC +t?asrather more than natural that he should be in a <utile, blustering

rageat the out*ome o< 'oisG <riendship <or the little Broad?a9dan*er

ree o< anger, his mind reerted to the stor9 'ois Dunlap had toldhimor in it, he ?as sure, ?as hidden the e9 to the m9ster9 o< itaSelimGs murder ot at all interested in the proposition to organiea

'ittle Theater in 1amilton, ita had been seied ?ith a strangee*itement as soon as she ?as sho?n photographs o< a largegroup o< 1amiltonGs ri*hest and most prominent inhabitants But there?as therubI HA large groupIH Jould that group o< possible suspe*tsneer narro?do?n to oneK < *ourse there ?as 3udge Marshall, but i< 'oisDunlapGs

memor9 ?as to be trusted ita had not noti*ed the elderl9 BeauBrummelGspi*ture until Ha<terH that strange, h9steri*al e*itement had taenpossession o< her And i< it had been 3udge Marshall ?hom shehad *ome



to 1amilton to bla*mail ?ould ita not hae guarded her tonguebe<ore'oisK The same ?as true about her etraordinar9 interest in loraMiles

Dundee tried to put himsel< in itaGs pla*e, *on<ronted suddenl9?ith agroup pi*ture *ontaining the lieness o< a person--man or?oman--against?hom she ne? something so dread<ul and so se*ret that hersilen*e ?ouldbe ?orth thousands o< dollars Jould HheH hae *hattered o< thater9

personK oI < an9one else but that parti*ular personI +t ?aseas9 topi*ture ita, her head ?hirling ?ith possibilities, hitting upon themost *onspi*uous pla9er in the group--dar, tense, theatri*allora,alread9 pointed out to her as one o< the t?o <emale leads in theopera But o< ?hom had she reall9 been thiningK

Again a blan ?allI or in that group photograph o< the *ast o<

CTheBeggarGs peraC had appeared eer9 man, ?oman and girl ?hohad beenitaGs guest on the da9 o< her murder

Dundee, pa9ing more attention to his driing, no? that he ?as inthebusiness se*tion o< the *it9, sa? ahead o< him the se*ond-ratehotel

?here Deter Sprague had been liing sin*e ita had ?ired himto ;oinher in 1amilton n a sudden impulse the dete*tie pared his*ar in<ront o< the hotel and <ie minutes later ?as no*ing uponSpragueGs



door

CJell, ?hat do 9ou ?ant no?KC the unshaen, pallid mandemanded

ungra*iousl9

Dundee stepped into the room and *losed the door C+ ?ant 9outo tell methe name o< the man ita Selim *ame here to bla*mail,SpragueC

CBla*mailKC Sprague e*hoed, his pallid *hees going more9ello?

CEouGre *ra9I ita *ame here to tae a ;ob--C

CShe *ame here to bla*mail someone, and + am *onin*ed thatshe sent<or 9ou to a*t as a partner in her s*heme o, ?aitI +Gm H*onin*edH,+ tell 9ou,C Dundee assured him griml9 CBut +Gll mae a trade ?ith9ou,in behal< o< the distri*t attorne9 Tell me the name o< the person

shebla*mailed, and + ?ill promise 9ou immunit9 <rom prose*ution ashera**ompli*eC

C4et out o< m9 roomIC and Deter SpragueGs right <ore<ingertremblediolentl9 as it pointed to?ard the door in a melodramati* gesture

CNer9 ?ell, Sprague,C Dundee said CBut let me gie 9ou a <riendl9?arning HDonGt tr9 to *arr9 on the good ?orH ita got tenthousanddollars, but she also got a bullet through her heart And the gun?hi*h<ired that bullet is sa<el9 ba* in the hands o< the iller EouGre



not going to get that moie ;ob, and + ?as ;ust a<raid 9ou mightbetemptedI 4ood a<ternoonIC

)1AT(R TJ(TE

+t ?as Jednesda9 eening, <our ?hole da9s sin*e ita 'eighSelim,Broad?a9 dan*er, had been murdered ?hile she ?as dumm9 at

bridgelain*lothesmen, in pairs, da9 and night shi<ts, still guarded thelonel9 house in rimrose Meado?s, but Dundee had taen nointerest inthe a*tual s*ene o< the *rime sin*e )arra?a9, <ingerprint epert,hadreported negatiel9 upon the se*ret shel< bet?een itaGs bedroom*losetand the guest *loset So <ar as an9 tangible eiden*e ?ent, onl9

DundeeGs <ingers had pressed upon the pioting panel andeplored thenarro? shel<

The er9 la* o< <ingerprints had o< *ourse *on<irmed DundeeGsbelie< that the murdererGs hand had pressed upon that s?inging panel,hadLuested in ain <or the in*riminating do*uments or letters ?hi*h

hadbeen the basis o< itaGs bla*mail s*heme, had deposited uponthe shel< the gun and silen*er ?ith ?hi*h the murder had beena**omplished, and



had later retrieed the ?eapon in per<e*t sa<et9 A hand loosel9?rappedin a hander*hie< or prote*ted b9 a gloe The hand o< a*unning,

*are<ul, *old-blooded murderer--or murderess But--?hoK HJhoKH

Bonnie Dundee, brooding at his des in the liing room o< hissmallapartment, re<le*ted bitterl9 that he ?as no nearer the ans?er tothatLuestion than he had been an hour a<ter ita SelimGs death

CJell, Gm9 dear JatsonG,C he addressed his *aged parrot <inall9CJhatdo 9ou sa9K Jho illed ita SelimKC

The parrot stirred on his per*h, thrust out his hooed bea to niphismasterGs prodding <inger, then disdain<ull9 turned his ba*

C+ donGt blame 9ou, )apGn,C Dundee *hu*led CEou must be as

si* o< that Luestion as + am And ?hat a pit9 it eer had to be asedI+< the murderer had not been so hast9--or so pressed <or time thathereall9 *ould not ?ait to listen to ita--he ?ould hae learned <romita hersel< that she had de*ided to be a er9 good girl, and hadburnedthe GpapersG--all be*ause she ?as genuinel9 in loe ?ith Ralph

1ammond ne *om<ort ?e hae, Gm9 dear JatsonG: themurderer stilldoes not no? that ita burned the papers rida9 night Sooneror later,?hen he beliees poli*e igilan*e has been relaed, heGll gopro?ling



about that house, and to )aptain Stra?n, ?ho doesnGt tae theslighteststo* in m9 theor9, ?ill go *redit <or the arrest 5nless--C

Dundee rea*hed <or a telegraph <orm and again s*anned thepen*illedmessage nl9 that a<ternoon had it o**urred to him to as thetelegraph*ompan9 <or a *op9 o< the ?ire b9 ?hi*h Deter Sprague,a**ording to hiso?n stor9, had been summoned to 1amilton b9 ita Selim

The manager had been obliging, had looed up the message and

*opied it?ith his o?n hand +t ?as a night letter, and had been <iled in1amiltonApril 2$--the third da9 a<ter itaGs arrial Addressed to DeterSprague, at a hotel in the theatri*al distri*t, e? Eor )it9, themessage read:

C(N(RET1+4 3A7( S AR B5T J5'D ((' SA(R E51(R( )1AMB(R

)MM(R)( 'A+4 BST(R MN+( 5D+4 ADD(N('M(T 1AM+'T '7+4 4D D+R()TR J1E T TRE R 3BAS 4D (Q)5S( A'' ME 'N(--+TAC

Dundee laid the paper on his des, lo*ed his hands behind hishead, andaddressed the parrot again The habit o< using the bird <or an

audien*eand as an e*use <or puling and mulling aloud had gro?n onhim duringthe 9ear he had o?ned the dought9 old )apGn



CAs + ?as about to sa9, Gm9 dear JatsonG, )aptain Stra?nGs bo9sout atthe Selim house ?ill hae their *han*e to nab our man--or?oman--unless

Deter Sprague ignores m9 ?arning, pretends to hae the papershimsel<,and tries to *arr9 on the bla*mail s*heme, ?hi*h he undoubtedl9ne?all about and ?hi*h, most probabl9, he en*ouraged ita toundertae--theG<riendG she had to *onsult, 9ou no?, be<ore she de*ided toa**ept 'oisDunlapGs o<<erC

The parrot interrupted ?ith a hoarse *a*le

C1ae 9ou gone oer to the enem9, )apGnKC Dundee reproed thebird CEousound ea*tl9 lie Stra?n ?hen he laughed at m9 interpretationo< thismessage this a<ternoon M9 late *hie< *ontends--and it is ;ustpossible,

o< *ourse, that he is right--that ita ?as a<raid she *ouldnGt s?ingthe ;ob o< organiing and dire*ting 'oisG 'ittle Theater, and ?antedSpraguehere, both as loer and uno<<i*ial assistant But thatGs a prett9thineplanation, donGt 9ou thin, Gm9 dear JatsonGK h, all rightI'augh,damn 9ouI But +Gd <eel better i< Stra?n had taen m9 adi*e and

set adi* to trail Sprague, to see that he eeps out o< mis*hie< Allthis, ho?eer, gets us no nearer to ans?ering that eternalLuestion--GJhoKGC



Jith a deep sigh the troubled 9oung spe*ial inestigator rea*hed<or theCTime TableC he had dra<ted <rom his notes made during the grisl9repla9ing o< the Cdeath hand at bridge,C and s*anned it again:

.:20--lora Miles, dumm9, Table o ", leaes liing room to telephone

.:22--)lie 1ammond arries and goes dire*tl9 into solarium

.:2%--(nd o< rubber at Table o " la9ers: oll9 Beale, 3anet Ra9mond, 'ois Dunlap, lora Miles =dumm9@ oll9 Bealeleaes

liing room to ;oin )lie 1ammond in solarium

.:2$--3anet Ra9mond leaes roomF sa9s she ?ent straight to<ront por*h

.:2.--Tra*e9 Miles pars *ar at *urbF ?als up to the house,hangs up hat in *lothes *loset and at =his estimate@

.:2O--Miles enters liing room, tals ?ith ita, ?ho, asdumm9, has ;ust laid do?n her *ards at Table o 2 la9ers: 7arenMarshall, enn9 )rain, )arol9n Drae

.:28--ita leaes liing room, goes to her bedroom to maeup

.:28-">2--'ois Dunlap and Miles go into dining room, Miles tomae *o*tails



.:%"--3udge Marshall enters liing room, interrupts bridgegame

.:%%--3ohn ) Drae enters liing room, haing ?aled <rom

)ountr9 )lub, ?hi*h he sa9s he le<t at .:"0, and ?hi*h is onl9 three-Luarters o< a mile <rom the Selim house

.:%6--7aren <inishes pla9ing o< hand, and Deter Sprague and3anet Ra9mond enter <rom <ront por*h, pro*eeding into dining room

.:%O--enn9 )rain <inishes s*oring, and 7aren leaes room to

tell ita the s*ore

.:%8--7aren s*reams upon dis*oering the dead bod9 at the dressing-table

Dundee laid aside the t9ped sheet and rea*hed <or another, thet9ping o< ?hi*h ?as per<e*t, sin*e enn9Gs e<<i*ient <ingers had manipulated

thee9s

Jhen he had telephoned to the o<<i*e ;ust be<ore <ie oG*lo*Monda9a<ternoon to see i< an9thing had *ome up, Dundee had learned<rom enn9that eter Dunlap had issued an in<ormal *all to Cthe *ro?dC <or ameeting at his home that eening

CEouGre going, o< *ourseKC Dundee had ased CThen, during thedis*ussion o< the *ase, + ?ish 9ouGd tr9 to get the ans?ers tosomeLuestions ?hi*h need *learing up--i< 9ou *an do so ?ithoutgetting



9oursel< Gin Dut*hG ?ith 9our <riends ineI 4ot a pen*ilK 1eregoesIC

And no? he ?as re-reading the CreportC she had *ons*ientiousl9

?rittenand le<t on his des Tuesda9 morning:

Ceter, de*laring he ?anted to get at the bottom o< this *ase,presidedalmost lie a ;udge on the ben*h, and ased nearl9 eer9Luestion 9ou?anted the ans?er to (er9one in the *ro?d adores gru<< oldeter and

no one dreamed o< resenting his barrage o< Luestions Jhat adete*tie HheH ?ould maeI

Cirst: 3anet admitted that she did not go dire*tl9 to the <rontpor*h?hen she le<t the liing room a<ter her table <inished the lastrubberJent <irst to the hall laator9 to *omb her hair and rene? her

mae-upSaid she ?as there alone about <ie minutes, then ?ent to the<rontpor*h =Reised her stor9 a<ter Tra*e9 had said he did not see heronthe por*h ?hen he arried@

CSe*ond: 3udge Marshall said he glan*ed into the liing room?hen he

arried, sa? 7aren, )arol9n and me absorbed in our game, and?ent ondo?n the hall, to hang up his hat and sti* ro*eededimmediatel9 tothe liing room



CThird: 3ohn Drae told eter he entered the <ront hall and passedon tothe laator9 to ?ash up elt sti*9 a<ter his ?al <rom the)ountr9

)lub 1ung up hat in the guest *loset Jent to liing room ?ithinthreeminutes a<ter rea*hing the house

Courth: oll9 and )lie told eter the9 sta9ed together in thesolariumthe ?hole time, stationed at a <ront ?indo?, ?at*hing <or RalphJheneter ased them i< the9 *ould *on<irm 3udge MarshallGs stor9 and

3ohnn9DraeGs stor9, the9 said the9 had seen them both arrie, but hadpaid noattention to them a<ter the9 ?ere in the house +t o**urred toeter,too, to ?onder i< either oll9 or )lie ?ent to itaGs room to ?arnherthat Ralph ne? about SpragueGs haing slept the night be<ore inthe

upstairs bedroom The9 both denied emphati*all9 that the9 haddone so

Ci<th: 3udge Marshall--the pompous old darling--still smartingunderthe insinuations 9ou made about him and ita right a<ter themurder,olunteered the in<ormation to eter that ita had HnotH paid herrent,

on the plea that she ?as short o< <unds, and that he had told herto letit go until it ?as Luite *onenient

CSith: The ?ord Gbla*mailG ?as not mentioned, and 3ohnn9Drae,



be*ause o< pro<essional ethi*s, + suppose, did not tell about itaGst?odeposits o< .,000 ea*h in his ban

CSeenth: The se*ret shel< in the <o9er *loset ?as not mentioned

CeterGs erdi*t, a<ter he got through ?ith us, ?as that onl9Sprague*ould hae done it--using the gun and silen*er ?hi*h ita hersel<hadstolen <rom 1ugo + *ouldnGt tell him that 9ou are *onin*ed that'9diaGs alibi <or him is a genuine one, <or apparentl9 '9dia hasnGttold

either lora or Tra*e9 that she ?as able to <urnish Sprague analibi

CAnd thatGs all, e*ept that eter ased me to *one9 to 9ou hisapologies <or his rudeness Monda9 a<ternoon enelope )rainC

Jith a deep sigh Dundee laid enn9Gs report aside

CAnd that does seem to be all, Gm9 dear JatsonG,C he told the

parrotC(a*tl9 hal< a doen possible suspe*ts, and not an atom o< a*tualeiden*e against one o< them--e*ept that 3udge Marshall o?nedthe gunSi--*ount Gem: 3udge Marshall, 3ohn Drae, lora Miles, )lie1ammond,oll9 Beale, 3anet Ra9mond (er9 single one o< them apossiblei*tim o< bla*mail, sin*e the girls all attended the ors9te

S*hool,?here ita dire*ted the (aster pla9 <or t?o 9ears, and sin*e themenmae seeral trips a 9ear to e? Eor Si people, all o< ?homprobabl9 ne? o< the eisten*e o< the se*ret shel< Si people?ho



ne? ita ?as in her bedroom, either <rom haing seen her go or<romhearing her po?der bo tinling its damnable tuneI Ees, enn9IEouGre

rightI ThatGs all--so <ar as 1amilton is *on*ernedI +< Sanderson?onGtlet me go to e? Eor--?hi*h is ?here this damned businessstarted--+Gllresign and go on m9 o?n, ?ithout ?asting another da9 hereIC

But Dundee did not go to e? Eor the net morning 1e ?as <artoo bus9in 1amilton

)1AT(R TJ(TE-(

C1ello, enn9IC Dundee greeted the distri*t attorne9Gs priatese*retar9

Thursda9 morning at <ie minutes a<ter nine CAn9 ne?s <romSandersonKC

CEes,C enn9 )rain ans?ered listlessl9 CA night letter 1e sa9s hismother is still er9 lo? and that ?eGre to ?ire him at the 4oodSamaritan 1ospital in )hi*ago i< an9thing turns upC

CThen + suppose + *an rea*h him there b9 long distan*e,C andDundee

li<ted the telephone <rom enn9Gs des to put in the *all

CJhatGs happenedKC enn9 demanded, her bro?n e9es ?ide andstartled



CAnd hurr9 it up, ?ill 9ou, pleaseKC Dundee urged the longdistan*eoperator be<ore hanging up the re*eier and ans?ering enn9GsLuestion

CThatGs ;ust the trouble--nothingGs happened, and nothing is er9liel9to happen here +Gm determined to go to e? Eor and ?or onthis pes9*ase <rom that end--C

CThen 9ouGe *ome around to )aptain Stra?nGs theor9 that it ?asa e?Eor gunmanKC enn9 ased hope<ull9

Cot b9 a ;ug<ulI But ?hatGs the matter ?ith 9ou this morning,9oung?omanK EouGre looing less lie a ne? penn9 and more lie onethat hasbeen too mu*h in *ir*ulationC

CThansIC enn9 retorted sar*asti*all9F then she grinned ?r9l9CEou are

right, as a matter o< <a*t + ?as up too late last night--bridge attheMilesesGC

CHBridgeIHC Dundee e;a*ulated in*redulousl9 CSo the bridge part9 HdidHtae pla*e, in spite o< the so*iet9 editorGs dis*reet announ*ement9esterda9 that Go?ing to the tragi* death o< Mrs Selim, theregular

eer9-other-Jednesda9 dinner-bridge o< the ors9te AlumnaeAsso*iation?ill not be held this eening at the home o< Mr and Mrs Tra*e9Miles,as s*heduledGC



C+t ?asnGt a Gdinner-bridgeG and it reall9 ?asnGt intended to be apart9,C enn9 *orre*ted him C+t ;ust sort o< happened, and o< alltheghastl9 eenings--C

CTell me about it,C Dundee suggested C7no?ing this to?nGstelephoneseri*e as + do, +Gll hae plent9 o< time to listen, and 9ou donGtno?ho? all-agog + am <or inside gossip on 1amiltonGs upper *rustC

C+diotIC enn9 <lung at him s*orn<ull9 CEou no? so*iet9 ?ouldbore 9ou

to death, but + donGt thin 9ou ?ould hae been ea*tl9 bored lastnight, no?ing, as + do, 9our opinion o< Deter SpragueC

CSpragueK 4ood 'ordI Jas he thereK This does promise to beinterestingI Tell me allIC

C4ie me timeIC enn9 snapped C+ might as ?ell tal, sin*ethereGsalmost no ?or <or me to do, ?ith Bill a?a9 Ralph *alled me up

lastnight at dinner time, and ased me i< + <elt eLual to pla9ing bridgeagain 1e said that he, )lie, Tra*e9 and 3ohnn9 Drae hadlun*hedtogether 9esterda9--as the9 <reLuentl9 do--at the Athleti* )lub,andthat 3udge Marshall, ?ho had been lun*hing at another table ?ithhis<riend, Attorne9 Sampson, stopped at their table and suggested a

bridgegame at his home <or last night 1ugo said he ?anted to *oa7aren intopla9ing again, so she ?ould get oer her h9steri*al aersion tothe game



sin*e she had to repla9 that a?<ul Gdeath handG Eou see,Cenn9eplained parentheti*all9, C1ugo is a regular bridge <iend, andnaturall9 he doesnGt ?ant to be ept out o< his gameC

CBruteIC Dundee *ried disgustedl9 CJh9 *ouldnGt he gie the poorgirl a<e? da9s moreKC

CThatGs ?hat + thought,C enn9 a*no?ledged CBut H+H didnGt getaninhibition against bridge, and the idea rather appealed to mepersonall9 The last <e? da9s haenGt been parti*ularl9 *heer<ul

ones,so + told Ralph +Gd be glad to go Tra*e9 had suggested his house,instead o< 1ugoGs, be*ause Bett9 ?asnGt ?ell 9esterda9 and lora?ouldnGt ?ant to leae her <or a ?hole eening Jell, Ralph and+--C

CAre 9ou going to marr9 Ralph 1ammond, enn9KC Dundeeinterrupted, as i< prompted b9 *asual interest

enn9Gs pale <a*e <lushed iidl9 Co +Gm not in loe ?ith him,and+Gm sure he realies +Gm not and ?onGt as me again But + HhadHto sa99es Sunda9I + simpl9 *ouldnGt let 9ou ?al in on us, a<ter +Gdpermitted9ou to eaesdrop ?hile he ?as taling, ?ithout <irst sa9ing theone

thing that ?ould *onin*e him that + belieed in his inno*en*eandhadnGt set a trap <or himC

C+ seeIC Dundee a*no?ledged soberl9, but his blue e9es shone?ith sudden ;o9 ChI ThereGs long distan*eI 3ust a minute,



darlingI 1elloI 1elloI Ees, this is Dundee hI All rightITr9 again in <i<teen minutes, ?ill 9ouKC 1e hung up the re*eierandeplained to enn9: CSanderson hasnGt rea*hed the hospital 9et,

but isepe*ted soon 4o on ?ith 9our stor9 Jho all pla9ed bridgeatthe MilesesGK Eou donGt mean to sa9 Deter Sprague ?as inited,tooIC

enn9Gs <a*e ?as still a brilliant pin as she ans?ered: C+ re<use tohae m9 *lima spoiledI Jhen Ralph and + got there at eight,?e <ound

that eter and 'ois had dined ?ith Tra*e9 and lora and that the9?eredelighted at the prospe*t o< bridge, as a relie< <rom endlessdis*ussions o< the murder JeGd hardl9 got there ?hen theMarshalls*ame, poor little 7aren not suspe*ting that she ?as going to haetopla9 Then *ame 3ohnn9 Drae alone, ?ith the ne?s that )arol9n?as in

bed and er9 miserable ?ith a summer *old oll9 ?aled oer<rom herhouse, ?hi*h is on the net hill to the right, 9ou no? She said)liehad de*ided to ?or late at the o<<i*e, and had promised to *all<or herabout eleen, to tae her homeC

CJhat about 3anet Ra9mondK Jas she le<t outKC Dundee ased

C+ told 9ou it ?asnGt a planned a<<air,C enn9 reminded him CButloradid telephone her, and she said she didnGt <eel lie *oming SheGsbeen



moping about lie a si* *at sin*e itaGs death Je all ne? she?asidioti*all9 in loe ?ith Deter Sprague, and it must hae been ana?<ul

blo? to her to hear 9ou read aloud that note ita re*eied <romSpragueC

CSo + noti*ed,C Dundee nodded, re*alling the deathl9 pallor o< thegirlGs <a*e as Sprague had glibl9 eplained a?a9 that damningnote andall its impli*ations

CJell,C enn9 *ontinued, CTra*e9 suggested bridge, and at <irst

7aren<latl9 re<used to pla9, but 1ugo <inall9 persuaded her 7aren?oulddo absolutel9 Han9thingH <or that ridi*ulous old husband o< hersI +simpl9 *anGt understand it--ho? she *an be in loe ?ith him, +meanIC

C+ thought 9ou lied 3udge Marshall,C Dundee laughed

Ch, + do--in a ?a9 But <an*9 a 9oung girl lie 7aren being inloe?ith himI Jell, an9?a9, ?e all ?ent out to the east por*h,?hi*h isept in readiness <or bridge all summer +ron bridge tables,*oered?ith oil*loth, and ?ith oil*loth pou*hes <or the *ards and s*orepads,so thereGs neer an9 bother about s*urr9ing in ?ith things on

a**ount o< rain +tGs a roo<ed, stone-<loored por*h, right outside the liing-room,and under it are the garages, so itGs high and *ool, ?ith a grandie?



o< Mirror 'ae do?n belo?, and o< the *it9 in the distan*eC Shesighed,and Dundee ne? that she ?as thining o< her o?n lost home inBrent?ood--the <ine old )olonial mansion ?hi*h had been

sa*ri<i*ed toher <atherGs disastrous rimrose Meado?s enture Then she ?enton: C+donGt no? ?h9 + am telling 9ou all this, e*ept that the setting?as sopleasant that ?e should hae had a mu*h better time than ?edidC

CEouGre an art<ul min, enn9IC Dundee *hu*led CEouGre ?oring

upsuspense <or the entran*e o< the illainIC

CThen let me do it ;usti*e,C enn9 retorted C'ois and eter, Ralphand+, made up one table <or bridgeF Tra*e9 and oll9, 3udge Marshalland7aren the other lora said she didnGt ?ant to pla9, be*ause she?anted

to be <ree to eep an e9e on Bett9, although she protested shehadper<e*t <aith in '9dia, ?ho, lora sa9s, is proing to be a marel?iththe *hildren And 3ohnn9 Drae ased her to pla9 anagrams ?ithhim, inbet?een trips to the nurser9 3ohnn9 has a per<e*t pash <oranagrams,and is a ?o? at Gem So Tra*e9 got the bo o< anagrams out o<

the troph9room--C

CThe troph9 roomKC Dundee repeated, amused



CThatGs ?hat Tra*e9 *alls it,C enn9 eplained impatientl9,Cbe*ause hehas a *ouple o< gol< *ups and lora has an immense siler atro*it9?hi*h

testi<ies to the <a*t that she ?as the Glad9Gs tennis *hampionG o<thestate <or one 9ear There are also some mounted <ish and somedeer heads?ith in*redible antlers, but the room is reall9 used as a *at*h-all<orall the sports things--ra*Luets, gol< *lubs, sis, ping-pong table,et* An9?a9, Tra*e9 brought out the bo o< anagrams, and ?e?ere all

haing a prett9 good time ?hen, at hal< past eight, the butlerannoun*edGHMr Deter SpragueHGIC

CEour tone maes me ?ish +Gd been there,C Dundeea*no?ledged CJhathappenedKC

CEou no? ho? slap-em-on-the-ba* Tra*e9 al?a9s isKC enn9

ased,grinning CJell, 9ou should hae seen him and heard him as hedismissedpoor Jhitson--the butler--as i< he ?ere giing him noti*e, insteado< letting him o<< <or the nightI And the i*9 dignit9 ?ith ?hi*h hegreetedpoor Sprague--C

CHoorH SpragueKC Dundee e*hoed

CJell, a<ter all, Sprague HhadH been re*eied b9 all the *ro?dbe<oreitaGs death,C enn9 retorted C+ thin it ?as rather natural <orhim to



thin heGd still be ?el*ome 1e began to apologie <or hisuninitedpresen*e, sa9ing he had <elt lonesome and depressed and had ;ust G;umped

into a taiG and *ome along, hoping to <ind the Mileses in loratriedto a*t the lad9 hostess, but eter got up <rom his bridge table andsaidin tones een i*ier than Tra*e9Gs: GJill 9ou e*use me, loraK And?ill9ou tae m9 pla*e, DraeK +Gm going into the librar9 + donGten;o9the so*iet9 o< murderersIGC

C4ood 'ordIC Dundee e;a*ulated, sho*ed but admiring CDidSprague maea Lui* eitKC

Cot ;ust then,C enn9 said m9steriousl9 C< *ourse eer9one?as simpl9stunned, but Sprague retorted *heer<ull9, Geither do +, DunlapIGeter

staled on into the liing room on his ?a9 to the librar9, 3ohnn9toohis pla*e at the bridge table, and Tra*e9, at an urgent signal <romlora, o<<ered his seat at the other table to Sprague, as i< he ?eremaing ?a9 <or a leper oor oll9 had to be SpragueGs partnerlora,as i< she ?ere terri<ied at ?hat might happen--9ou no? ho?<right<ull9tense and nerous she is--made an e*use to run upstairs <or a

loo atBett9C

CAnd something terrible did happen,C Dundee guessed CEouGrelooingpositiel9 ghoulish ut ?ith itIC



CA<ter about hal< an hour o< pla9ing ?ithout pioting,C enn9 ?entonimperturbabl9, C1ugo bid three spades, 7aren raised him--in a

tremblingoi*e--to <ie spades, 1ugo o< *ourse ?ent to a little slam, andDeterSprague, i< 9ou *an beliee me, said: GBetter not leae the table,7aren HA little slam-bid in spades has been no?n to be <atal tothedumm9IHGC

CHoIHC Dundee ?as genuinel9 sho*ed, but be<ore he *ould sa9

more thetelephone rang CSanderson at last 1elloI )hi*agoK h, hello,)aptain Stra?nI HJhatGs thatKH h, m9 4odI Jhere did9ou sa9the bod9 isKC

1e listened <or a long minute, then, ?ith a daed CThansI +Gll beoer,C he hung up the re*eier

CSprague--murderedIC he ans?ered the horri<ied Luestion inenn9Gs e9esCBod9 dis*oered this morning about nine b9 one o< the MilesGmaids, in?hat 9ou des*ribed ;ust no? as the Gtroph9 roomG Shot--;ustbelo?the breastbone, )aptain Stra?n sa9sC

CThe troph9 roomIC enn9 *ried CThen--HthatGsH ?here he ?as all

thetime a<ter he disappeared so strangel9 last night--C

CJhoa, enn9IC Dundee *ommanded C4et hold o< 9oursel<IEouGre shaing



all oer + ?ant to no? eer9thing H9ouH no?--as Lui*l9 andasa**uratel9 as 9ou *an tell it 4o right on--C

Coor DeterIC enn9 groaned, *oering her *onulsed <a*e ?ithherhands CTo thin that he ?as HdeadH ?hen ?e ?ere sa9ing su*hhorridthings about him--C

CDonGt ?aste s9mpath9 on him, hone9IC Dundee *ut in, his oi*eer9gentle but urgent C+< he had heeded m9 ?arning Monda9 he

?ouldnGt bedead no?C

CJhat do 9ou meanKC enn9 gasped, but she ?as alread9 *almerCEour?arning--KC

C+ had a strong suspi*ion that he ?as mied up ?ith ita in herbla*mail s*heme and + too the trouble to ?arn him not to tr9 to

*arr9on ?ith it Eesterda9 a<ternoon + begged Stra?n to hae himshado?ed tosee that he ept out o< mis*hie< + ?as a<raid the temptation?ould betoo strong <or him, but Stra?n ?ouldnGt listen to me--still *lingingtohis theor9 o< a e? Eor gunman eeling better no?, hone9K)an 9ou

go onK + ?ant to get out to the Miles house as soon as + *anC

CEouGre getting er9--a<<e*tionate, arenGt 9ouKC enn9 gae him a?obbl9smile in ?hi*h, ho?eer, there ?as no reproo< C+ thin + *an goon



no?-- Jhere ?as +KC

C4ood girlIC Dundee applauded, but his heart ?as beating hard?ith

something more than e*itement oer SpragueGs murder CEouGd ;ust toldme about SpragueGs ?arning 7aren not to leae the table ?henshe be*amedumm9 a<ter 3udge MarshallGs little slam bid in spadesC

C+ remember,C enn9 said, pressing her <ingers into her templesCBut7aren HdidH leae the table Jhen Sprague said that a?<ul thing,

poor7aren burst into tears and ran <rom the por*h into the liingroom, 1ugostarted to <ollo? her, but Sprague halted him b9 apologiing er9humbl9, and then b9 adding: G+Gd reall9 lie to see 9ou pla9 thishand,sir + beliee +Ge got the *ards to set 9ou ?ithG < *ourse he*ould not hae said an9thing better *al*ulated to hold 1ugo, ?ho,as +

said, is a regular <iend ?hen it *omes to bridge Jell, 1ugopla9edthe hand and made his little slam, and then he again started togo loo<or 7aren, but oll9, ?ho ?as SpragueGs partner, 9ou no?, toldhim inthat brusLue ?a9 o< hers to go on ?ith the game and gie 7arena *han*eto hae her little ?eep in pea*e robabl9 1ugo ?ould hae gone

to loo<or her an9?a9, but ;ust then lora *ame ba* She said Bett9?as asleepat last and that her temperature ?as normal, and ?hen she heardabout



7aren, she o<<ered to tae her hand until 7aren <elt lie *omingba*C

CJhat did Drae do thenK 1eGd been pla9ing anagrams ?ith Mrs

Miles, 9ousaid,C Dundee interrupted

CDonGt 9ou rememberK--+ told 9ou 3ohnn9 had taen eterGs pla*eat ourtable a<ter eter re<used to breathe the same air as DeterSprague,Cenn9 reminded him CRalph and +, 'ois and 3ohnn9 ?ere pla9ingtogether,

and ;ust at the time + be*ame dumm9, Sprague be*ame dumm9at the othertable 1e rose, sa9ing he had to go telephone <or a tai, andpassed<rom the por*h into the liing room--C

CJhere is the telephoneKC

CThe one the guests use is on a table in the hall *loset, ?here ?e

putour things,C enn9 eplained CEou *an shut the door and hold aper<e*tl9 priate *onersation Jell, H?e neer sa? DeterSpragueagainHIC

C4ood 'ordI Another bridge dumm9 murderedIC Dundee groanedCAt leastthe ne?spapers ?ill be happ9I DidnGt an9one go to loo <or him

a<terthe hand ?as pla9edKC

Cot straight o<<,C enn9 ans?ered, ?ith an obious e<<ort toremember



*learl9 eer9 detail C'etGs see--h, 9esI That hand ?as pla9edoutbe<ore Ralph had <inished pla9ing his, at our table, so + ?as <reeto

pa9 attention to the other table lora said that sin*e the9*ouldnGtpla9 another hand until Deter *ame ba*, she thought sheGdbetter huntup 7aren, ?ho hadnGt *ome ba* 9etC

C1o? long ?as Mrs Miles a?a9 <rom the por*hKC Dundee asedLui*l9

Ch, + donGt no?--ten minutes, ma9be She *ame ba* alone,sa9ing shehad <ound 7aren in her bedroom--loraGs room, o< *ourse--*r9ingin*onsolabl9 lora told 1ugo heGd better go up to her himsel<,sin*eshe eidentl9 had her <eelings hurt be*ause he hadnGt <ollo?edher inthe <irst pla*e Tra*e9, ?ho ?asnGt pla9ing bridge, 9ou remember,be*ause he had gien up his pla*e to Sprague, ased lora i<

sheGd seenSprague, and lora said, in a surprised oi*e, GoI + ?onder ?herehe isall this time,G and oll9 said that probabl9 heGd gone to thelaator9,?hi*h opens into the main hall and is net to the librar9 Jell,prett9 soon 3udge Marshall and 7aren *ame ba*--C

Crett9 soonK--3ust ho? long ?as 3udge Marshall goneKC Dundee

pressedher, his pen*il, ?hi*h had been <l9ing to tae do?n her eer9?ord,poised oer the noteboo he had snat*hed <rom her des



C+ *anGt sa9 ea*tl9IC enn9 protested thornil9 C+ ?as pla9ingagain atthe other table + suppose it ?as about ten minutes, <or Ralph and+ had

made another rubber, + remember An9?a9, 7aren ?as smilinglie abab9 that has had a lot o< petting, but she said 1ugo hadpromised hershe ?ouldnGt hae to pla9 bridge an9 more that eening, so loraremained at that table, pla9ing opposite 1ugo, ?hile Tra*e9pla9ed ?itholl9 As soon as Tra*e9 be*ame dumm9, lora suggested he goloo <or

SpragueC

CAnd ho? long ?as HheH gone <rom the por*hKC Dundee ased

C'ess than no time,C enn9 assured him C1e ?as ba* be<oreoll9 had<inished pla9ing the hand 1e said heGd gone to the hall *loset,?hereJhitson, the butler, ?ould hae put SpragueGs hat and sti*, and

that hehad <ound the9 ?ere gone Jell--and 9ou neednGt put do?nG?ellG eer9time + sa9 itIC enn9 interrupted hersel< tartl9 CTra*e9 said hesupposed Sprague had ordered his tai and had de*ided to ?aldo?n thehill to meet it, and he added that that ?as ea*tl9 the ind o<*ourtes99ou *ould epe*t <rom a *ad and a bounder lie Sprague--?aling

inuninited, maing 7aren *r9, then ?aling out, ?ithout a ?ord,leaingthe game ?hile he ?as dumm9 lora spoe up then and said it?as no



?onder Deter had le<t ?ithout sa9ing good-b9, *onsidering ho?heGd beentreated Then Tra*e9 said something ugl9 and sar*asti* aboutloraGs

being disappointed be*ause Sprague had de*ided not to spendthe ?holeeening--C

CA <irst-*lass ro?, ehKC Dundee interrupted, ?ith een interest

CRatherI lora almost *ried, said Tra*e9 ne? good and ?ell thatshe hadonl9 been pla9ing-up to Sprague be<ore itaGs death, in the hope

o< getting the lead in the 1amilton moie, i< Sprague got the ;ob o< dire*ting it, and Tra*e9 said, GSo 9ou *all it pla9ing-up, do 9ouK +tlooed lie high-po?ered <lirting to me--or ma9be it ?as morethan a<lirtationIG Then lora told him he hadnGt a*ted ;ealous at thetime, and that he Hne?H heGd hae been glad i< sheGd got thelead Jell, ;ust then along *ame 3anet--C

CH3anet Ra9mondKHC Dundee e;a*ulated C+ thought 9ou said shehadre<used the initation ?hen Mrs Miles phoned herC

CSo she had, but she said she *hanged her mind, had been bluealleening, and needed *heering upC

C1o? did she get inKC

CShe ?aled oer <rom her house, ?hi*h isnGt er9 <ar <rom theMilesesG,and simpl9 *ame up the path to the por*h,C enn9 eplainedCTra*e9



ased her i< she had seen Sprague on the road--itGs the sameroad Deter?ould hae had to tae going do?n the hill to the main road--andshe

a*ted a?<ull9 Lueer--C

C1o?KC Dundee demanded

C(a*tl9 as she ?ould a*t, sin*e she ?as in loe ?ith him,C enn9retorted CShe turned er9 red, and ased i< Sprague had inLuired<orher, and lora Luite sharpl9 told her he hadnGt Then 3anet saidshe ?as

er9 mu*h surprised that Sprague had been there, and that she*ouldnGtunderstand ?h9 he had behaed so strangel9 Then 'ois said shemight as?ell go <et*h eter <rom the librar9, sin*e Sprague ?as no longerthereto *ontaminate the atmosphere She *ame ba*--C

CA<ter ho? long a timeKC

Ch, about <ie minutes, + suppose,C enn9 ans?ered ?earil9CShe *amein, her arm lined ?ith eterGs, and laughing Said she had <oundhimreading a GDead?ood Di*G thriller ne o< Tra*e9Gs hobbies--Cshebroe o<< to eplain, C--is *olle*ting old-<ashioned thrillers, liethe

i* )arter, Diamond 7ing Brad9, Bu<<alo Bill and Dead?ood Di*paper-bound boos < *ourse he didnGt tae up that hobb9 untila lot o< other ri*h men had done it <irst There ?as neer an9bod9 lessoriginal



than poor Tra*e9 Jell, lora gae up her pla*e to 3anet, andagainpla9ed anagrams ?ith 3ohnn9, eter taing his original pla*e atour

table Suddenl9 oll9 thre? do?n her *ards--sheGd been haingrottenlu* and seemed out o< sorts--and said she didnGt ?ant to pla9bridgean9 more So poor lora again had to be the per<e*t hostess, ands?it*h<rom anagrams to bridgeC

CAnd oll9 pla9ed anagrams ?ith DraeKC Dundee prompted

Co She said she thought anagrams ?ere sill9, and ?andered o<<thepor*h and do?n the path, *alling oer her shoulder that she ?asgoing totae a ?al Tra*e9 ased 3ohnn9 i< heGd mind miing thehighballs andbringing out the sand?i*hes Said Jhitson had le<t a thermosbu*et o<

i*e *ubes on the sideboard, some bottles o< ginger ale, and a tra9o< glasses and sand?i*hes Told him heGd <ind de*anters o< S*ot*hand r9e,and to bring out bothC

CSo Drae le<t the room, too,C Dundee mused Ch, 'ord + Hne?H +Gd<ind that eer9 last one o< the si had a *han*e to ill Sprague, as

?ell as itaI 1o? long ?as oll9 Beale gone on this ?al o<hersKC

CShe *ame in ?ith a pin ?ater lil9--said sheGd been do?n to thelil9



ponds, and that lora had enough to spare her one,C enn9ans?ered CShe*ouldnGt hae been a?a9 more than ten minutes, be*ause 3ohnn9?as ;ust

miing the highballs, a**ording to our pre<eren*e <or S*ot*h orr9e--orplain ginger ale, ?hi*h both Ralph and + *hose A<ter ?eGd had ourdrins and the sand?i*hes, ?e ?ent on ?ith bridge oll9 and3ohnn9 ;ust?andered about the por*h or ?at*hed the game at the t?otables Andabout <ie minutes a<ter eleen )lie 1ammond arried, *omingup the

path to the por*h, ;ust as 3anet had A<ter he *ame, there ?as nomorebridge, but ?e sat around on the por*h and taled until midnight)liesaid he ?as too tired to pla9 bridge--that heGd been struggling alleening ?ith a nott9 problemC

C+ *an s9mpathie ?ith himIC Dundee said griml9, as he roseC+Ge got

m9 o?n nott9 problem a?aiting me Jhen that *all *omesthrough <rom)hi*ago, tell Sanderson the bad ne?s, and sa9 +Gll telephone himlaterC

)1AT(R TJ(TE-TJ

The Miles home, still no?n in 1amilton as the 1a*ett pla*e,sin*e ithad been built more than thirt9 9ears be<ore b9 loraGs <ather, old



Silas 1a*ett, dead these seen 9ears, dominated one o< themostbeauti<ul o< the ?ooded hills ?hi*h en*ir*led Mirror 'ae in theBrent?ood se*tion < modi<ied Tudor ar*hite*ture, its deep red,

mello?ed bri*s had a*hieed in three de*ades almost the sameageddignit9 and impressieness as *hara*teried the three-*entur9-oldmansion in (ngland ?hi*h Silas 1a*ettGs ar*hite*t had used asaninspiration

The big house <a*ed the lae, a long series o< lands*aped terra*esleading do?n to the ?aterGs edge, but the drie?a9 ?ound <rom

the stateroad up a side o< the hill, to the main entran*e at the rear o< thehouse

n*e be<ore--on Sunda9, the da9 a<ter ita SelimGs murder, ?henhe had*ome to interie? '9dia )arr and had se*ured the alibi ?hi*h hadeliminated Deter Sprague as a suspe*t--Dundee had drien his*ar up

this hill bet?een the tall 9e? hedges But then he had taen the<or?hi*h led to the hooded door?a9 oer the it*henF haddes*ended theit*hen stairs ?ith '9dia, to the serantsG sitting room in thebasement o? he *ontinued along the main drie?a9 to themoreimpressie entran*e, ?hose <laning, slim turrets <ro?ned do?nupon a

line o< poli*e *ars and motor*9*les

1is approa*h must hae been epe*ted and obsered, <or it ?asthe mastero< the house ?ho opened the great, iron-studded doors andinited the



dete*tie into the broad main hall, at the end o< ?hi*h, do?nthreesteps, la9 the immense liing room The dete*tieGs <irst glan*etoo in

statel9 arm*hairs o< the )rom?ell period, thi*, mello?-tonedrugs, and,in the liing room be9ond, splendid eamples o< 3a*obean<urniture

CA horrible thing to happen in a manGs home, Dundee,C Miles ?assa9ing,his plump, ros9 <a*e blighted ?ith horror C+ *anGt realie 9et that?e

a*tuall9 slept as usual ?ith a *orpse l9ing do?n here all nightIAnd +hae onl9 m9sel< to blame--C

CJhat do 9ou meanKC Dundee ased

CJh9, that the--the bod9 ?asnGt dis*oered sooner,C Mileseplained C+< it had o**urred to me that Jhitson hadnGt *losed the troph9 room

?indo?s, + should hae gone in to *lose and lo* them ?hen +made therounds o< liing room, dining room and librar9, a<ter our guests?eregone last nightC

A pale-<a*ed, bald-headed butler had materialied ?hile hismaster ?asspeaing CBeg pardon, sir, but + did not *lose the troph9 room

?indo?sbe*ause + thought 9ou might be using the room again Eou see,sir,Cand Jhitson turned to Dundee, CMr Miles and Mr Dunlap pla9edping-pong



in the troph9 room a<ter dinner until the other guests began toarrie,and + did not ?ant them to <ind the room stu<<9--it ?as a ?armnight--i<

an9 o< the guests--C

C+ see,C Dundee interrupted CJho, to 9our no?ledge, ?as thelastperson to enter the troph9 room last night, Mr MilesKC

C+ ?as, e*ept Sprague, o< *ourse, and + had no idea heGd gonethereDrae ?anted to pla9 anagrams, and be<ore the bridge game

started, +?ent to the troph9 room to get the bo,C Miles eplained C+turned o<< the light ?hen + le<t, and there ?as no light burning in there thismorning ?hen )elia, the parlor maid, ?ent there to put theanagram boba* in the *abinet, and <ound the bod9 lora--Mrs Miles--hadbrought the anagrams in <rom the por*h and le<t them on a tablein the

liing room, as our guests ?ere getting read9 to leae There ?asnothing else to bring in, in *ase o< rain The bridge tables are o< iron, *oered ?ith oil*loth, and <itted ?ith oil*loth bags <or the*ards, s*ore pads, and pen*ils--C

CEes, + no?,C Dundee interrupted CMiss )rain has alread9 toldme allabout that, and a good man9 details o< the part9 itsel< B9 the?a9,

?here is Mrs Miles no?KC

C+n bed The do*tor is ?ith her She is prostrated <rom the sho*C

CJhere is this room 9ou *all the troph9 roomKC Dundee asedCo, donGt



bother to *ome ?ith me 3ust point it out +tGs on this <loor, +understandC

Miles pointed past the great *ir*ular stair*ase that ?ound up?ard

<romthe main hall CEou *anGt see the door <rom here, but itGs behindthestair*ase )elia <ound the door *losed this morning, and no lighton, as+ said--C

Dundee *ut him short b9 mar*hing to?ard the door ?hi*h ?asagain *losed

1e entered so noiselessl9 that )aptain Stra?n, Dr ri*e and the<ingerprint epert, )arra?a9, did not hear him or a moment hestood ;ust inside the door and let his e9es ?ander about the room ?hi*henn9)rain had alread9 des*ribed +t ?as not a large room--t?ele b9<ourteen<eet, possibl9--but it looed een smaller, *ro?ded as it ?as ?iththe

long ping-pong table, bags o< gol< *lubs, <ishing ta*le, tennisra*Luets, sis and sleds There ?ere t?o ?indo?s in the north?all o< the room, looing out upon the 9e?-hedged drie?a9, andbet?een themstood a *abinet o< numerous big and little dra?ers

ot until he had taen in the general aspe*t o< the room didDundee loo

at the thing oer ?hi*h )aptain Stra?n and the *oroner ?erebending--thebod9 o< Deter Sprague

The alien <rom e? Eor had <allen about <our <eet <rom the?indo?



nearer the east ?all o< the troph9 room 1e la9 on his side, hisle<t*hee against the <loor, the <ingers o< his le<t hand still *lut*hingthe po?der-burned bosom o< his so<t shirt, no? sti<< ?ith dried

blood, apool o< ?hi*h had <ormed and then hal< *ongealed upon the rugThe righthand, the <ingers *urled but not tou*hing ea*h other, la9 palm-up?ard onthe <loor at the end o< the rigid, outstret*hed arm The one isiblee9e?as hal< open, but on the sallo?, thin <a*e, ?hi*h had beenstriingl9

handsome in an obious sort o< ?a9, ?as a pea*e and dignit9?hi*h Dundeehad neer seen upon SpragueGs <a*e ?hen the man ?as alie Thele<t leg?as dra?n up?ard so that the nee almost tou*hed the bullet-pier*edstoma*h

C1o? long has he been dead, do*torKC Dundee ased Luietl9

C1ello, bo9IC Dr ri*e greeted him pla*idl9 CAl?a9s the sameLuestionI+Ge been here onl9 a <e? minutes, and +Ge alread9 told Stra?nthat +shall probabl9 be unable to <i the hour o< death ?ith an9 degreeo< a**ura*9C

CToo 9our time, didnGt 9ou, BonnieKC )aptain Stra?n greeted his<ormersubordinate on the 1omi*ide SLuad CDo* sa9s heGs been deadbet?een tenand t?ele hours Sin*e itGs nearl9 ten no?, that means Sprague?as



illed some time bet?een nine and eleen oG*lo* last nightC

CBetter sa9 bet?een nine oG*lo* and midnight last night,C Drri*e

suggested C1e ma9 hae lied an hour or more--un*ons*ious, o<*ourseor the indi*ations are that he did not die instantl9, but staggereda<e? steps, *lut*hing at the ?ound But o< *ourse + shall hae toper<orman autops9 <irst----C

Dundee *rossed the room, stepping oer the dead manGs sti*--a

s?ana<<air o< dar, polished ?ood, ?ith a hea9 nob o< *ared on9,?hi*hla9 about a <oot be9ond the rea*h o< the *urled <ingers o< the sti<< right hand

CSpragueGs hatKC he ased, pointing to a brightl9 banded stra??hi*h la9upon the top o< the *abinet

CEes,C Stra?n ans?ered CAnd did 9ou noti*e the ?indo? s*reenKC

1e pointed to the ?indo? in <ront o< ?hi*h the bod9 la9 The sasho< leaded panes ?as raised as high as it ?ould go, and beneath it?as as*reen o< the roller-*urtain t9pe, raised about si in*hes <rom the?indo? sill A pair o< *ured, ni*el-plated *at*hes in the *enter

o< the in*h-?ide metal band on the bottom o< the *oppernet *urtainsho?edho? the s*reen ?as raised or lo?ered

Dundee nodded, <ro?ning, and Stra?n began eagerl9:



CEouGll hae to admit + ?as right no?, bo9 EouGe sneered at m9gunmantheor9 and tried to pin itaGs murder on one o< 1amiltonGs <inest

bun*ho< people, but 9ouGll hae to admit no? that eer9 detail o< thisset-upbears me outC

CEesKC

CSure This is the ?a9 + <igure it out: Sprague has good reason tobe

a<raid heGs net on the program 1eGs nerous 1e hops a tai athishotel and *omes here--*anGt sti* to his room an9 longer Jants alittlehuman *ompanionship This *ro?d here--and + hae MilesG ?ord<orit--ainGt an9 too glad to see him, and sho?s it 1e phones <or atai togo ba* to his hotel--about #:"., that ?as, Miles sa9s--but

de*ides to?al do?n the hill to meet it DonGt ?ant to go ba* out on thepor*hand lie about haing had a good time, ?hen he hasnGt Jell, heopensthe <ront door, or ?hat ?ould be the <ront door i< this ?as an9ordinar9house, but be<ore he steps out he sees or hears something--probabl9 a

rustling in the hedge a*ross the drie?a9, or ma9be he een seesa <a*e,in the light <rom the lanterns on ea*h side o< the door 1e <eelssureitaGs murderer has trailed him and is l9ing in ?ait <or him +n apani*



he darts into this room, and donGt turn on the light <or <ear heGllbeseen <rom the ?indo?s, but he *an see ?ell enough to mae outho? the

s*reens ?or, and he ?as <amiliar ?ith the house an9?a9 +Gll bet9ouan9thing 9ou lie Sprague sta9ed in this room <or an hour or t?o,tillhe thought the *oast ?as *lear, then eased up this s*reen,intending to*limb out o< the ?indo? and drop to the ground ot mu*h o< adrop atthat Eou *an see that the tall hedge on this side o< the drie?a9

*omesprett9 near up to these ?indo?s Jell, + <igure he laid his hatonthis *abinet, intending to rea*h in <or it ?hen he ?as outside, butthathe had alread9 made some little noise ?hi*h the gunman ?aslistening<or, and that ?hen he got the s*reen up this high, the gunman,*rou*hing

under the ?indo?, let go ?ith the same gun and silen*er that heused tobump o<< ita +Ge got MilesG ?ord <or it that neither he noran9bod9 else heard a shot < *ourse, nobod9 ne? Sprague?as inhere, and sin*e his hat and sti* ?as both missing <rom the hall*loset,the9 too it <or granted heGd beat it An9 ob;e*tions to thattheor9,

bo9KC

C3ust a <e?--one in parti*ular,C Dundee said CBut + grant itGs agoodone, proided Dr ri*eGs autops9 bears 9ou out as to the *ourseo< the



bullet, and that )arra?a9 <inds SpragueGs <ingerprints on that*ontrian*e <or raising the s*reen (en then----C

But Dundee ?as not allo?ed to <inish his senten*e, <or Stra?n

?assummoned to the telephone, b9 Jhitson Jhen he returned there?as aslightl9 be?ildered loo on his hea9 old <a*e

CThatGs <unn9 )ollins--the lad + sent to *he* up on the tai*ompanies--sa9s heGs lo*ated the drier that ans?ered SpragueGs*alllast night The drier sa9s he ?as *alled about #:"., told to *ome

immediatel9, and to ?ait <or Sprague at the <oot o< the hill, on themain road 1e sa9s he ?aited there until hal< past ten, then ?entonba* to to?n, soreGn a boiled o?lC

C+t doesnGt loo ea*tl9 as i< Sprague ?ere a<raid o< an9one Houtside o< this houseH last night, does itKC Dundee ased CB9 the ?a9, +suppose

9ouGe sent <or eer9one ?ho ?as hereKC

CSureIC But again )aptain Stra?n looed un*om<ortable CBut ?ehaenGtbeen able to lo*ate the Beale girl and )lie 1ammondC

)1AT(R TJ(TE-T1R((

C+Gd gie a good deal to no? ?hi*h o< those t?o suggested thatit ?ould



be a good idea to get married the <irst thing this morning,CDundeemused aloud, as he put do?n the se*ond etra ?hi*h HThe1amilton Morning

e?sH had had o**asion to issue that Thursda9

+t ?as t?o oG*lo*, and the distri*t attorne9Gs Cspe*ialinestigatorCsat a*ross the des <rom )aptain Stra?n, in his <ormer *hie<Gso<<i*e atoli*e 1eadLuarters

The <irst etra had s*reamed in its biggest head t9pe: S()D

BR+D4(D5MME M5RD(RI and had *arried, in detail, )aptain Stra?nGs*om<ortingtheor9 that Deter SpragueGs erst?hile <riends had again beenmade thei*tims o< a e? Eor gunmanGs <iendish *leerness in *ommittinghismurders under *ir*umstan*es ?hi*h ?ould ineitabl9 inole1amiltonGs

most highl9 respe*ted and so*iall9 prominent *itiens in the poli*einestigation

But the se*ond etra had a more romanti* streamer headline:1AMMDJ(DD+4 D('AES M5RD(R 5+

The stor9 beneath a series o< smaller headlines began:

CAt the er9 moment--#:0. oG*lo* this morning--?hen )elia1unt, maid inthe Tra*e9 Miles home in the Brent?ood distri*t o< 1amilton, ?ass*reaming the ne?s o< her dis*oer9 o< the dead bod9 o< DeterSprague,



e? Eor motion pi*ture dire*tor, in ?hat is no?n as the Gtroph9room,GMiss oll9 Beale and Mr )lie 1ammond ?ere appl9ing <or amarriage

li*ense in the Muni*ipal Building

CAt #:%0, ?hen Miss Beale and Mr 1ammond ?ere e*hangingtheir o?s inthe re*tor9 o< St aulGs (pis*opal )hur*h, o< ?hi*h both bride andgroom hae been members sin*e *hildhood, )aptain 3ohn Stra?no< the1omi*ide SLuad ?as listening to Tra*e9 MilesG a**ount o< thestrange

disappearan*e o< Deter Sprague last night <rom an impromptubridgegame, a<ter he had announ*ed his intention o< taing adantageo< the<a*t that he ?as Gdumm9G to telephone <or a tai

CAnd at "0 oG*lo*, ?hen the ne? Mrs 1ammond *alled her hometo breathe ne?s o< her marriage to her aunt, Mrs Amelia Beale, the

bride ?asin turn a*Luainted ?ith the ne?s o< SpragueGs murder and the<a*t thatboth she and her husband ?ere ?anted at the Miles home <orLuestioningb9 the poli*e, sin*e both had been guests o< Mr and Mrs Mileslastnight, although Mr 1ammond did not arrie until about ""oG*lo*C

There <ollo?ed a reision o< the murder stor9 as it had appearedin the<irst etra, ?ith additional details supplied b9 Stra?n, and ?ith aline



dra?ing o< the s*ene o< the *rime--the troph9 room itsel< and the<oreddrie?a9 ?ith its tall 9e? hedges A dotted line illustratedStra?nGs

theor9 o< SpragueGs plan to elude the murderer ?ho had <ollo?edhim tothe Miles home Be*ause o< the *ured s?eep o< the drie?a9to?ard themain entran*e o< the house, the tall hedge ?as less than t?o <eet<romthe ?indo? ?ith the partl9 opened s*reen

C)aptain Stra?nGs theor9,C read the tet belo? the large dra?ing,

Cisthat Sprague had good *ause to <ear he ?as being <ollo?ed on his?a9 tothe Miles homeF that he telephoned <or a tai to ?ait <or him atthe<oot o< the hill, and that he planned to leae the Miles house b9?a9 o< the troph9 room ?indo?, so that his luring pursuer might haeno

no?ledge o< his departure The dra?ing sho?s that his proposed<light?ould hae been prote*ted b9 hedges until he rea*hed the?ooded slope o< the hill, proided his emesis ?as luring in the opposite hedgea*rossthe drie?a9, ?here he *ould obsere eer9 departure <rom theMileshomeC

CEouGe sure got a single-tra* mind, bo9,C Stra?n *hu*led CSo9outhin those t?o got married in su*h a hurr9 this morning be*ausethe la?



sa9s a husband or a ?i<e *anGt be made to testi<9 against theotherKC

Cossibl9C Dundee grinned, unru<<led CBut there is another

possibilit9--?hi*h is ?h9 + should lie to no? ?ho suggested thissudden ?edding + mean that ?e *anGt oerloo the possibilit9that theset?o murders made either the bride or the groom <eel per<e*tl9sa<e ingoing on ?ith the marriage oll9 Beale and )lie 1ammond hadbeenengaged <or more than a 9ear, 9ou no?, ?ith no apparentreason <or a

long engagement As <or m9 haing a single-tra* mind,)aptain, ?hatabout 9ouK + hae si possible suspe*ts, all o< ?hose names +no?, and9ou hae onl9 one--?hose name 9ou do not no?, and ?hosemotie 9ou *anonl9 guess at, ?hile H+H hae a per<e*tl9 good motie that might<it an9one o< m9 si--bla*mailIC

C+s that soKC Stra?n gro?led C+Gm not telling the paperseer9thing,and i< the9 are satis<ied to *all these murders GH*rimespassionnelsH,GitGs all right ?ith me But +Gm not <orgetting that ita Selimbanedten thousand dollars *ash a<ter she got to 1amilton M9 realtheor9 no?

that Sprague has been illed is that ita and Sprague had *ooedup somesort o< ra*et bet?een them, and that ?hen ita got the *han*eto *ometo 1amilton ?ith Mrs Dunlap, she ;umped at it, and she andSprague



sprung their ra*et, ?hateer it ?as, either ;ust be<ore or ;usta<terita le<t e? Eor robabl9 it ?as itaGs tip-o<< and Sprague didthe

a*tual dirt9 ?or himsel<, ?hi*h eplains that telegram that itasenthim April 2$, ;ust three da9s a<ter she got to 1amilton 'etGs seeagain ;ust ?hat it sa9s,C and Stra?n rea*hed <or a *op9 o< the nightletter?hi*h Dundee himsel< had unearthed the da9 be<ore CSee:GH(er9thing3ae so <ar, but ?ould <eel sa<er 9ou hereH--GC

CEes, + remember the ?ording Luite ?ell,C Dundee interruptedCBut 9oudid not tae it so seriousl9 ?hen + sho?ed it to 9ou 9esterda9 +<9ouhad--C

CAll rightI Rub it inIC Stra?n snapped, <lushing darl9 C+< + hadassigned a man to GtailG Sprague, as 9ou suggested, he ?ouldnGt

haebeen murdered--C

C1e probabl9 ?ould hae been murdered ;ust the same,C Dundee*om<ortedthe older man, Cbut ?e might hae been lu*9 enough to haehad ane9e-?itnessC

Ch, 9ou and 9our theor9IC Stra?n gro?led CBut let me go onitameant she ?ould <eel sa<er about Sprague i< he ?as here in1amilton,too But the gu9 the9 double-*rossed in e? Eor, or ?ored thebadger



game on, or something lie that, got on their trail But it too him?ees to do it, and Sprague <ollo?ed itaGs adi*e 1e got hereonSunda9 April 2O, and on Monda9 the 28th ita baned the <irst

.,000IDonGt 9ou see it, bo9K Sprague brought ?ith him the dough the9Gdgot <ortheir stunt, and thought it ?as sa<er <or ita to ban it in hername,sin*e it ?asnGt the name she ?as no?n b9 in e? Eor an9?a9JeGe*he*ed up on Sprague prett9 thoroughl9 1e didnGt hae a banboo,

either on his bod9 or in his room, and eer9 ban in to?n denieshe hadan a**ount ?ith themC

C+< that theor9 is *orre*t, it maes ita Selim a prett9 lo?*hara*ter,CDundee mused aloud Cot onl9 did she i* him out as a loer,but shedouble-*rossed him as her partner in *rime, b9 ?illing the ?hole

?ad to'9dia )arr Sprague must hae re*eied Luite a sho* ?hen hehearditaGs ?ill read at the inLuestC

CEeah,C Stra?n agreed C+t loos lie Mrs Dunlap pi*ed a s?eetspe*imen to mae a <riend out o< Jell, thatGs m9 theor9, and +thinit eplains eer9thing Their i*tim in e? Eor simpl9 hired a

gunman,or *ome do?n here himsel<, ?hen he got on their tra*s <*ourse it ?asa good stunt to mae it loo lie a lo*al *rime--<igured heGd <ool HmeH



;ust as he <ooled H9ouHI So the murderer simpl9 trailed itaaround, andsa? that ?hole bun*h o< so*iet9 people shooting at a target at3udge

MarshallGs pla*e, ?ith a gun eLuipped ?ith a Maim silen*er Toogood anopportunit9 to be missed, so he bides his *han*e to s?ipe the gunandsilen*er To mae sure it ?ill loo lie a lo*al *rime, he pops o<<ita?hen that same bun*h is at her house, but it taes a <e? da9slongerbe<ore he has the same opportunit9 to get Sprague But it *ome

lastnight and he grabbed itC

CA er9 plausible theor9, and one ?hi*h, in general, the ?hole *it9o< 1amilton has been <amiliar ?ith sin*e the night ita ?asmurdered,CDundee remared signi<i*antl9

CJhat do 9ou meanKC Stra?n demanded C+tGs ?aterproo<, ainGtitK Do*ri*e sa9s the bullet--and a %2 *aliber one at that--enteredSpragueGsbod9 ;ust belo? the breastbone and traeled an up?ard *ourse tillitstru* the etreme right side o< the heart The bullet enteredea*tl9?here it ?ould hae to, i< the murderer ?as *rou*hing under that

?indo??hile Sprague ?as raising the s*reen And ?e hae )arra?a9Gsreport thatit ?as SpragueGs <ingerprints on those ni*leplated things 9ouhae to



press together to mae the s*reen roll up or do?n urthermore,+haenGt a doubt in the ?orld that the ballisti*s epert in )hi*ago?ill

report that the bullet ?as <ired <rom the same gun that illed itaSelimC

Ceither hae +,C Dundee agreed CBut ?hat + meant ?as that 9ouhadobligingl9 <urnished the murderer ?ho <its Hm9H theor9 ?ith atheor9he--or she--?ould not hae upset <or the ?orldI 'istenIC and hebent

<or?ard er9 earnestl9: C+Gm ?illing to grant that Sprague ?asshot <romthe outside, through the ?indo?, ?hen Sprague raised thes*reen Butthere our theories part *ompan9 + beliee that the murderer ?asa guestin the Selim home last night, that he or she had made anappointment tomeet Sprague there, on the promise o< pa9ing the hush mone9

he haddemanded, in spite o< m9 ?arning to him not to *arr9 on ?ith thebla*mail s*heme aturall9 he or she--and +Gll sa9 GheG <rom no?on,<or the sae o< *onenien*e--had no intention o< being seenenteringthat room The bridge game ?as suggested b9 3udge Marshall atnoonThere ?as plent9 o< time <or the rendeous to be made ?ith

Sprague As+ see it, the murderer told Sprague to e*use himsel< <rom thegame ?henhe be*ame dumm9, and to go to the troph9 room and ?ait thereuntil the



murderer had a *han*e to slip a?a9 and appear beneath the?indo?Sprague had been promised that, ?hen he raised the s*reen at atap or a

?hispered reLuest, a roll o< bills ?ould be handed to him, but--here*eied a bullet insteadC

CAnd ?hi*h one o< 9our si suspe*ts hae 9ou pi*ed onKC Stra?nasedsar*asti*all9

CThatGs ;ust the trouble There are still si,C Dundeea*no?ledged ?ith

a ?r9 grin CA<ter SpragueGs disappearan*e, eer9 one o< the si?asabsent <rom the por*h at one time or another o, b9 4eorgeIThereare HseenH suspe*ts no?I + ?as about to <orget eter Dunlap,?ho admitshe ?as alone on a <ishing trip ?hen ita ?as murdered and ?hole<t thepor*h last night to go to the librar9, as soon as Sprague

arriedI As<or the moements o< the original si a<ter Sprague disappeared:oll9Beale too a ?al about the groundsF lora Miles ?ent upstairs tohunt<or 7aren Marshall, and ?as gone more than ten minutesF Drae?ent tothe dining room to get the re<reshments, and no one *an sa9ea*tl9 ho?

long he ?as goneF 3udge Marshall ?ent up to get his ?i<e, andhad timeto mae a little trip on the sideF 3anet Ra9mond ?aled oer <romherhome, and passed that er9 ?indo?, arriing a<ter Sprague had



disappearedF and, <inall9, )lie 1ammond arried alone in his *ar,?hi*hhe pared ?ithin a <e? <eet o< that ?indo? This morning he getsmarried----C

CA telegram, sirIC interrupted a plain*lothesman, ?ho had entered?ithout no*ing

Stra?n snat*hed at it, read it, then eulted: CRead this, bo9I +guess HthisH settles the businessIC

The telegram had been <iled hal< an hour be<ore and ?as <rom the

*it9editor o< HThe e? Eor (ening ressH:

CJR7+4 E5R T1(RE (J ER7 45MAR(SS+B'( M5RD(RS 35A+TA '(+41 S('+M AD D(QT(R SRA45( T1+S A(R1AS D+S)N(R(D T1AT S('+M JMA JAS S(( AT +41T )'5BS S(N(RA'T+M(S D5R+4

3A5ARE (BR5ARE J+T1 5T( SJA''J TA+' SAMME(D 5T( 5D(RJR'D AM( R SAM SAN(''+ ST SAN(''+ TA7( R R+D(T5(SDAE AR+' TJ(TE S()D TJ DAES AT(R S('+M JMA '(T (JER7 ST '+)( 1(R( JR7+4 T1(RE SAN(''+ S'A+ BE J 4A4AT(R T1(E J(R( T+(D SAN(''+ JAS D5B'( )RSS+4 T1(M ST +

(Q)1A4( R T1+S T+ )A E5 4+N( 5S AE S5R(SS(D +RMAT+E5R SS(SS+ ST SAN(''+ 1AD BRT1(R J1 +S 7J T 5S T1AN( RM+S(D



R(N(4( SJA''J TA+' SAMMES M5RD(R ST B( ASRT )ATA+C

CJell, that puts the lid on it, donGt itKC Stra?n *ro?ed C+Gll send

Sergeant Turner to e? Eor on the <ie oG*lo* train rett9de*ento< that *it9 editor to ?ire me this tip, +Gll sa9IC

CAnd are 9ou going to re*ipro*ate b9 ?iring him about the"0,000 itabaned hereKC Dundee ased

CSureI Jh9 notK ThereGs no use that + *an see to eep it ba* an9

longer, no? that no one *an hae an9 e*use to thin as 9ouGebeendoing--that it ?as bla*mail paid b9 a 1amiltonianC

CThen,C Dundee began er9 slo?l9, Ci< 9ou reall9 thin 9our *aseissoled, +Gll mae one suggestion: tae *harge o< '9dia )arr andput herin a er9 sa<e pla*eC

CJh9KC Stra?n looed puled

CBe*ause, ?hen 9ou publish the <a*t that ita and Sprague got"0,000<or tipping o<< SaelliGs gang that he ?as double-*rossing them,andthat ita ?illed the mone9 to '9dia, the aengerGs net and last ;ob

?ould be to GgetG '9dia, sin*e his natural *on*lusion ?ould be that'9dia had been in on the s*heme <rom the beginning,C Dundeeeplained

C4od, bo9I EouGre rightIC Stra?n e*laimed, and his hea9 old<a*e ?as



er9 pale as he rea*hed <or the telephone, and *alled the numbero< theMiles residen*e C+Gm going to put it up to her that it ?ill be best<or

her to be lo*ed up as a material ?itness, <or her o?nprote*tionC

ie minutes later Stra?n restored the re*eier to the hoo ?ith abangCSa9s she ?onGt budgeIC he eplained unne*essaril9 CSa9s sheainGta<raid and the Miles ids need her Jell, itGs her o?n <uneralIBut +

guess H9ouH are *onin*ed at lastKC

Dundee slo?l9 shoo his head CAlmost--but not Luite, *hie<IC

C'ord, but 9ouGre stubbornI 1ereGs a ?ater-tight *ase----C

CA er9 prett9 and a er9 satis<a*tor9 *ase, but not ea*tl9?ater-tight,C Dundee interrupted CThereGs ;ust one littlething----C

CJhat do 9ou meanKC Stra?n demanded irritabl9

C1ae 9ou <orgotten the se*ret shel< behind the guest *loset intheSelim houseKC Dundee ased

C+ *an a<<ord to <orget it, sin*e it hasnGt got a thing to do ?ith the*aseIC Stra?n retorted angril9 CThereGs not a s*rap o<

eiden*e----C

C< *ourse it does not <it into H9ourH theor9,C Dundee agreed, C<orGS?allo?-tail Samm9GsG aenging brother *ould not hae no?n o<its



eisten*e, but there is one thing about that se*ret shel< and itspiotdoor ?hi*h + donGt beliee 9ou *an a<<ord to <orget, )aptainIC

CEeahKC Stra?n snarled

CEeahI + re<er, o< *ourse, to the *omplete absen*e o<<ingerprints onthe door and on the shel< itsel<I )arra?a9 didnGt een <ind itaSelimGs<ingerprints Sin*e ita ?ould hae had no earthl9 reason <or*are<ull9?iping o<< her <ingerprints a<ter she remoed the papers she

burned onrida9 night, itGs a dead sure <a*t that someone else ?ho had nolegitimate business to do so, tou*hed that pioting panel and theshel<,and *are<ull9 remoed all tra*es that he had done soI And--C he*ontinued griml9, Cuntil + <ind out ?ho that someone is, +, <or one,?onGt *onsider the *ase soledIC

i<teen minutes later Dundee ?as sitting at enn9 )rainGs des in

hero<<i*e o< the distri*t attorne9Gs suite, repla*ing the re*eier uponthetelephone hoo, a<ter haing put in a *all <or Sanderson, ?ho ?asstillin )hi*ago, eeping igil at the bedside o< his d9ing mother

CDid 9ou <ind out an9thing ne? ?hen 9ou Luestioned the *ro?dthis

morningKC enn9 ased CBesides the <a*t that oll9 and )lie gotmarried this morning, + mean + ?asnGt surprised ?hen + readaboutthe ?edding in the etra +t ?as ea*tl9 lie oll9 to mae up hermindsuddenl9, a<ter putting )lie o<< <or a 9ear----C



CSo it ?as oll9 ?ho held ba*,C Dundee said to himsel< Aloud:Co, +didnGt learn mu*h ne?, enn9 EouGre a most e*ellent and

a**uratereporter But there ?ere one or t?o things that *ame out orinstan*e, + got Drae to admit to me, in priate, that ita did giehiman eplanation as to ?here she got the "0,000C

CEesKC enn9 prompted eagerl9

CDrae sa9s,C Dundee ans?ered dr9l9, Cthat ita told him it ?as

Gba*alimon9G ?hi*h she had su**eeded in *olle*ting <rom her <ormerhusband5n<ortunatel9, she did not sa9 ?ho or ?here the m9sterioushusband isC

CoohIC s*o<<ed enn9 CDonGt 9ou seeK She ;ust said that tosatis<93ohnn9Gs *uriosit9 A<ter all, it ?as the most plausible eplanation

o< ho? a dior*ee got hold o< a lot o< mone9C

CSo plausible that Drae ma9 hae thought o< it himsel<,C Dundeere<le*ted silentl9 Aloud, he *ontinued his report to the girl ?hohadbeen o< so mu*h help to him: CAmong other minor things that*ame outthis morning, and ?hi*h the papers did not report, ?as the <a*t

that3anet Ra9mond tried to *ommit sui*ide this morning b9 driningshoepolish ortunatel9 her <ather dis*oered ?hat she had donealmost as



soon as she had s?allo?ed the stu<<, and made her tae ipe*a*and thensent <or the do*torC

Ch, poor 3anetIC enn9 groaned CShe must hae been terribl9 inloe?ith Deter Sprague, though ?hat she sa? in him----C

Dundee made no *omment, but *ontinued ?ith his in<ormation:CAnotherminor deelopment ?as that Tra*e9 Miles admitted that he andlora hadLuarreled oer Sprague a<ter all o< 9ou le<t, and that lora too

t?osleeping tablets to mae sure o< a nightGs restC

CSheGs been a?<ull9 unstrung eer sin*e itaGs murder,C enn9de<endedher <riend CShe told us all Monda9 night at eterGs that the do*torhadpres*ribed sleeping medi*ine o?, 9ou loo here, BonnieDundeeIC she

*ried out sharpl9, ans?ering an enigmati* smile on the dete*tieGs<a*e,Ci< 9ou thin lora Miles illed ita Selim and Deter Sprague,be*auseshe ?as in loe ?ith Deter and learned he ?as itaGs loer <romthatsill9 note----C

CJhoa, enn9IC Dundee *he*ed her C+Gm not lining ea*tl9

that But+Ge ;ust remembered something that had seemed o< noimportan*e to mebe<oreC

CAnd ?hatGs that, Mr Smart Ale*KC enn9 demanded <uriousl9



CBe<ore + ans?er that Luestion, ?ill 9ou let me do a littletheoriingKCDundee suggested gentl9 C'et us suppose that lora Miles ?as

HnotH inloe ?ith Sprague, but that she ?as being bla*mailed b9 ita <orsomes*andal ita had heard gossiped about at the ors9te S*hoolo,?aitI 'et us suppose <urther that ita re*ognied loraGs pi*tureinthe group 'ois Dunlap sho?ed her, as the portrait o< the girl?hose

stor9 she had heardF that she ?as able, someho?, to se*urein*riminatingeiden*e o< some sort--letters, let us sa9 ita tells Spragueabout it,and Sprague adises her to bla*mail lora, ?ho, 'ois has toldita, iser9 ri*h So ita *omes to 1amilton and bleeds lora o< "0,000otsatis<ied, ita maes another demand, the mone9 to be paid to

her theda9 o< the bridge lun*heon----C

CSill9IC enn9 s*o<<ed <uriousl9 CThe onl9 eiden*e 9ou haeagainstpoor lora is that she stole the note Deter had ?ritten to itaIC

CThatGs the *ru o< the matter, enn9 darlingIC Dundee assuredher in a

maddeningl9 soothing oi*e, at ?hi*h enn9 *lin*hed her hands inimpotent rage Clora, seeing ita re*eie a letter ?ritten on herhusbandGs business stationer9, ;umps to the *on*lusion that itahad*arried out her threat to tell Tra*e9, or that ita has at least gien



Tra*e9 a hint o< the truth and that Tra*e9Gs spe*ial-messengernote is,let us sa9, a *on<irmation o< an appointment suggested b9 itaNer9

?ellI lora goes to itaGs bedroom at the <irst opportunit9,no?ingthat ita ?ill *ome there to mae up <or the menGs arrial 'etGssuppose lora had brought the gun and silen*er ?ith her,intending to<righten ita, rather than ill her But haing had proo<, as shebeliees, that ita means business, lora ?aits in the *loset untilita*omes in and sits do?n at her dressing-table, then steps out and

shootsher Then she re*oils step b9 step, until her <oot *at*hes in thesla**ord o< the brone lamp, *ausing the er9 Gbang or bumpG ?hi*hlorahersel< des*ribes later, <or <ear someone else has heard it 1er<irst*on*ern, o< *ourse, is to hide the gun and silen*er Sheremembers 3udge

MarshallGs tale o< the se*ret shel< in the guest *loset, and not onl9hides the gun there but sees in ain <or the in*riminatingeiden*eita has against her But she also remembers the note shebelieesTra*e9 has ?ritten to ita, and ?hi*h, i< <ound a<ter itaGs death,ma9gie her a?a9 So she goes to the *loset in itaGs bedroom, <indsthe

note, and <aints ?ith horror at her perhaps needless *rime ?hensherealies that the note ?as ?ritten b9 Sprague, and not Tra*e9 <*ourseshe is too ill and pani*-stri*en to leae the *loset until themurder



is dis*oered----C

CBut 9ou thin she ?as not too pani*-stri*en to hae thepresen*e o<

mind to retriee the gun and silen*er and ?al out ?ith them,under theer9 e9es o< the poli*e,C enn9 s*o<<ed

CHoI + thin she ?asIHC Dundee amaed her b9 admitting CAndthat is?here m9 sudden re*olle*tion o< something + had *onsideredunimportant*omes inI 'et us suppose that lora, hal<-suspe*ted b9 Tra*e9,

*on<essesto him in their *ar as the9 are going to the )ountr9 )lub <or theirlong-dela9ed dinner, as ?ere the rest o< 9ou Tra*e9, lo9al to her,de*ides to help her 1e tells her to suggest, at dinner, that '9dia*ometo them as nurse, so that he *an go ba* to the house and getthe gunand silen*er <rom the guest-*loset hiding pla*e, i< an opportunit9presents itsel<--as it did, sin*e + le<t Tra*e9 Miles alone in the hall

?hile + ?ent into itaGs bedroom to tal ?ith '9dia be<ore +permittedher to go ?ith Tra*e9C

CEouGre *ra9IC enn9 told him <ier*el9, ?hen he had <inished C+suppose 9ou are going to as me to beliee that Tra*e9 ?as a bigenough<ool to leae the gun and silen*er ?here lora *ould get hold o< itand

ill Sprague last nightC

CJh9 not let us suppose that Tra*e9 himsel< illed Sprague toprote*this ?i<e, not onl9 <rom s*andal, but <rom a *harge o< murderKCDundee



*ountered CTell me honestl9: do 9ou thin Tra*e9 Miles loesloraenough to do that <or herKC

Suddenl9, inepli*abl9, enn9 began to laugh--not h9steri*all9,but ?ithgenuine mirth

)1AT(R TJ(TE-5R

CJhat are 9ou laughing atKC Dundee demanded indignantl9, butthesustained ringing o< the telephone bell *he*ed enn9 )rainGsmirth<ullaughter CM9 )hi*ago *allI 1elloI Ees, this is Dundee Allright, but mae it snapp9, ?onGt 9ouK 1ello, Mr SandersonI1o? is9our motherK ThatGs <ineI + *ertainl9 hope--Ees, the inLuest is

slated <or tomorro? morning, but thereGs no use 9our leaing9our motherto *ome ba* <or it Ees, sir, one important ne? deelopment)an 9ouhear me plainl9K Then hold the line a moment, pleaseIC

Jith the re*eier still at his ear, Dundee <umbled in his po*et <ora<olded sheet o< paper Co, operatorI JeGre not throughI lease

eep o<< the line 'isten, *hie<IC he addressed the distri*t attorne9 at theother end o< the long distan*e ?ire CThis is a telegram )aptainStra?nre*eied this a<ternoon <rom the *it9 editor o< The e? Eor(ening



ress )an 9ou hear meK All rightIC and he read slo?l9,repeating?hen ne*essar9

Jhen he had <inished reading the telegram, he listened <or a longminute, but not ?ith so mu*h *on*entration that he *ould not grinatenn9Gs ?ide-e9ed amaement and ;o9 CThatGs ?hat + thin, sirIChe*ried ;ubilantl9 C+Gd lie to tae the <ie oG*lo* train <or e? Eorand ?or on the *ase <rom that end till ?e a*tuall9 get our teethintosomething Thans a lot, and m9 best ?ishes <or 9our motherIC

CJh9 didnGt 9ou tell me about this GS?allo?-tail Samm9GKC enn9demandedindignantl9 CTormenting me ?ith 9our sill9 theor9 about poorlora andTra*e9, ?hen all the time 9ou ne? the *ase ?as pra*ti*all9soled--C

C+Gm a<raid + gae the distri*t attorne9 a slightl9 <alse impression,C

Dundee interrupted, but there ?as no remorse in his shining bluee9esCBut ;ust so + get to e? Eor--B9 the ?a9, 9oung ?oman, ?hat H?ereH 9oulaughing at so heartil9K + didnGt no? + had made an amusingremar ?hen+ ased 9ou i< 9ou thought Tra*e9 Miles loed his ?i<e ?ell enoughto*ommit murder <or herC

enn9 laughed again, ?hite teeth and bro?n e9es gleaming C+?aslaughing at something else +t suddenl9 o**urred to me, ?hile 9ou?ere



spinning 9our <oolish theor9, ho? H<latteredH Tra*e9 ?ould haebeen i< lora had *on<essed to him Saturda9 night that she had illed itabe*ause she ?as ;ealousIC

CJhi*h ?as HnotH m9 theor9, i< 9ou rememberIC Dundee retortedCBut ?h9is the idea so amusingK Deep in his heart, + suppose an9 man?ouldreall9 be a bit <lattered i< his ?i<e loed him enough to be that ;ealousC

CEou donGt no? Tra*e9 Miles as ?ell as + do,C enn9 assured him,

here9es still mirth<ul C1eGs reall9 a dear, in spite o< being a dread<ulbore most o< the time, but the truth is, Tra*e9 hasnGt an atom o<seappeal, and he HmustH realie it < *ourse ?e girls hae allpampered his poor little ego b9 pretending to be *ra9 about himandterribl9 enious that it ?as lora ?ho got him--C

CBut lora 1a*ett HdidH marr9 him,C Dundee interrupted CShemust haebeen a beauti<ul girl, and she ?as *ertainl9 ri*h enough to getan9 manshe ?anted--C

CEou ?ould thin so, ?ouldnGt 9ouKC enn9 agreed, her tongueloosened b9relie< C+ ?as onl9 t?ele 9ears old ?hen lora 1a*ett made her

debut,but a t?ele-9ear-old has big ears and een e9es +t is true thatlora?as beauti<ul and ri*h, but--?ell, there ?as something Lueerabout her



She ?as simpl9 *ra9 to get married, and i< a man dan*ed ?ithher asman9 as three times in an eening she literall9 seied upon himand

tried to drag him to the altar 1er eagerness and her intensit9repelled eer9 man ?ho ?as in the least attra*ted to her, and +thinshe ?as beginning to be <rightened to death that she ?ouldnGt getmarried at all, ?hen she happened to meet Tra*e9, ?ho had ;ustgot a ;obas salesman in her <atherGs business She began to rush him--thereGs noother ?ord <or it--and none o< the other girls minded a bit,

be*ause,?ithout lora, Tra*e9 ?ould hae been the per<e*t male?all<lo?er The9be*ame engaged almost right a?a9, and ?ere married si monthsor solater All the girls <reel9 prophesied that een Tra*e9, <lattered b9her passion <or him as he so eidentl9 ?as, ?ould get tired o< it,buthe didnGt, and there ?ere three marriages in Gthe *ro?dG that

3uneC

CThreeKC Dundee repeated absentl9, <or his interest ?as ?aning

CEes 'ois Morro? and eter DunlapF 3ohnn9 Drae and )arol9nS?annFand Tra*e9 and lora,C enn9 ans?ered CAlthough + ?as thirteenthen andreall9 too old <or the role, + had the <un o< being <lo?er girl <or

'oisand lora bothC

CDo 9ou thin lora ?as reall9 in loe ?ith Tra*e9KC Dundee ased*uriousl9



Ch, 9esI But sheGd hae been in loe ?ith an9one ?ho ?anted tomarr9 her, and the <unn9 thing is that, ?ith the e*eption o< eterand 'ois, the9 are the happiest married *ouple + hae eerno?n Eou

see, Tra*e9 has neer got oer being <lattered that so prett9 andpassionate a girl as lora 1a*ett ?anted HhimHI And thatGs?h9 +laughedI Tra*e9, ?ith that deep-rooted seual in<eriorit9*omple o< his, ?ould hae been so <lattered i< lora had told him she illeditaout o< ;ealous9 that he ?ould hae <orgien her on the spot nthe other

hand,C she ?ent on, Ci< lora had told him that ita haddo*umentar9proo<s o< some <right<ul s*andal against her, *anGt 9ou see ho?iolentl9 Tra*e9 ?ould hae rea*ted against herK h, noI Tra*e9?ouldnot hae taen the trouble to murder Sprague, ?hen Spraguepopped up <ormore bla*mailIC

Cerhaps he might hae, i< the s*andal dated ba* to be<ore themarriage,C Dundee argued C'etGs suppose Sprague did pop up,and loraturned him oer to Tra*e9 Jhen Sprague appeared apparentl9uninitedlast night, lora must hae been on pins and needles, tr9ing tomaeTra*e9 treat him de*entl9 and hoping against hope that Tra*e9?ould

simpl9 pa9 the s*oundrel all the bla*mail he ?as demanding----C

CJhi*h is ea*tl9 ?hat Tra*e9 ?ould hae done, instead o< taingthea?<ul ris o< murdering him in his o?n home,C enn9 *ut inspiritedl9



CBesides, Tra*e9 ?asnGt gone <rom the por*h long enough to gooutside,signal to Sprague in the troph9 room, shoot him ?hen Spragueraised the

s*reen, and then hide the gun + told 9ou Tra*e9 ?as gone onl9about aminute ?hen he ?ent to see i< SpragueGs hat and sti* ?ere gone<rom the*losetC

CDid Tra*e9 and lora both step outside to see their guests intotheir*arsKC Dundee ased suddenl9

CTra*e9 did,C enn9 ans?ered Clora told us all good night in theliing room, then ran upstairs to see i< Bett9 ?as still asleepButremember ?e didnGt leae until midnight, and Dr ri*e sa9sSprague ?asilled bet?een nine and eleen last nightC

CDr ri*e ?ould be the <irst to grant a lee?a9 o< an hour, one ?a9

oranother,C Dundee told her C< *ourse, i< Tra*e9 did ill him, he letlora beliee that he had gien Sprague the bla*mail mone9 he?asdemanding or it is in*on*eiable that a ?oman o< lora MilesGh9steri*al temperament *ould hae slept--een ?ith t?o sleepingtablets--no?ing that a *orpse ?as in the houseC

Ch, +Gm si* o< 9our sill9 theoriingIC enn9 told him ?ith

ehements*orn C'isten here, Bonnie DundeeI Eou probabl9 laugh atG?omanGsintuitionG, but tae it <rom me--H9ouGre on the ?rong tra*HIC



Ch, +Gm not so ?edded to that parti*ular theor9IC Dundeelaughed C+*an spin 9ou ea*tl9 si more ;ust as *onin*ing--C

CAnd + shanGt listenI EouGd better dash home and pa* 9our bag i<9ou?ant to *at*h the <ie oG*lo* train <or e? EorC

C+tGs alread9 pa*ed and in m9 o<<i*e,C Dundee assured her lail9C4otlots o< time 1ulloI 1ereGs the home edition o< HThe (eningSunH,Che interrupted himsel<, as a small bo9, maing his rounds o< the

*ourthouse, <lung the paper into the o<<i*e 1e rea*hed <or it, andread the streamer headline aloud: C+TA'+A 4A4ST(R S541T+ BR+D4(M5RD(RS + ?ager a good man9 heads ?ill lie easier on theirpillo?stonightC

C'et me seeIC enn9 *ommanded, and snat*hed the paperun*eremoniousl9

ChI Did 9ou see thisKC and she pointed to a boed stor9 in themiddleo< the <ront page CGBridge arties )an*elledG,C she read aloudCGTheso*iet9 editor o< HThe (ening SunH ?as ept bus9 at hertelephonetoda9, re*eiing noti*es o< *an*ellations o< bridge partiess*heduled<or the remainder o< the ?ee (ight <ranti* hostesses, terri<ied b9

1amiltonGs se*ond murder at bridge----G h, thatGs simpl9 a H*rimeHI Thene?spapers deliberatel9 ?or up mob h9steria and then----C

C+Gd rather not pla9 bridge <or a ?hile m9sel<IC Dundee laughed,as he



rose and started <or his o?n o<<i*e CAnd donGt H9ouH dare leaetheroom ?hen 9ou be*ome dumm9, i< 9ou hae the nere to pla9againI

Remember, that gun and silen*er are still missingIC

CJhat do 9ou meanK Eou donGt thin thereGll be more----KC

Dundee be*ame instantl9 *ontrite be<ore her terror C+ didnGtmean it,hone9,C he said gentl9 C+ thin it is more than liel9 that the gunisat the bottom o< Mirror 'ae But do tae *are o< 9oursel<, and b9

that+ mean donGt ?or 9oursel< to death An9 messages <or an9onein e?EorKC

enn9Gs pale <a*e Luiered C+< 9ou--happen to run a*ross m9<ather,?hi*h o< *ourse 9ou ?onGt, tell him that--Mother ?ould lie him to*ome

homeC

At interals during the siteen-hour run to e? Eor, enn9Gs<altering?ords returned to haunt the distri*t attorne9Gs spe*ialinestigator,although he ?ould hae pre<erred to deote his entire attentiontomapping out the program he intended to <ollo? ?hen he rea*hed

the *it9?hi*h, he <ull9 belieed, had been the s*ene o< the <irst a*t o< thetragi* drama he ?as bent upon bringing to an eLuall9 tragi**on*lusion



As soon as he had registered at a hotel near the enns9laniaStation,and had shaed and brea<asted, he too <rom his bag a largeenelope

*ontaining the photographs )arra?a9 had made o< enn9 alieand o< itadead, both *lad in the ro9al blue elet dress +n the enelopealso ?asthe ?hite satin, gold-lettered label ?hi*h the dress had soproudl9borne: Cierre Model )opied b9 SimonsonGs e? Eor )it9C

1al< an hour later he ?as sho?ing the photographs and the label

to a?oman bu9er, in the ren*h Salon o< SimonsonGs, one o< e?EorGs mostCe*lusieC department stores

C)an 9ou tell me ?hen the original ierre model ?as bought, and?henthis *op9 ?as made and soldKC he ased

The ?hite-haired, smartl9 dressed bu9er a**epted the shea< o< photographs Bonnie Dundee ?as o<<ering C+Gll do m9 best, o<*ourse,Cshe began brisl9, then paled and uttered a sharp e*lamation ashere9es too in the topmost pi*ture CThis is 3uanita 'eigh, isnGtitK But--C she shuddered, Cho? odd she loos--as i<--C

CEes,C Dundee agreed grael9 CShe ?as dead ?hen that pi*ture

?as taenDid 9ou no? Mrs SelimKC

Co,C the ?oman breathed, her e9es still bulging ?ith horror CBut+Ge



seen so man9 pi*tures o< her in the papers To thin that it ?asoneo< HourH dresses she *hose <or her shroudI But 9ou ?ant to no??hen the

dress ?as sold to her, donGt 9ouKC she ased, bris again C+ *an<indout Je eep a re*ord o< all our ren*h originals and o< thenumber o< *opies made o< ea*h 'et me thinI +Ge been going to arism9sel< <or the <irm <or the last <i<teen 9ears, but + *anGt remember bu9ingthis ierre model h, o< *ourseI + didnGt go oer during "#"Oand

"#"8, on a**ount o< the ?ar, 9ou no?, but the big arisdesignersmanaged to send us a limited number o< er9 good models, andthis musthae been one o< them ther?ise, +Gd remember bu9ing it +<9ouGlle*use me a moment----C

Jhen she returned about ten minutes later, Miss Thomas brought

him apen*illed memorandum CThis ierre model ?as imported in thesummer o< "#"O, seeral months in adan*e o< the ?inter season, o< *oursenl9<ie *opies ?ere made--in di<<erent *olors and materials,naturall9,sin*e ?e mae a point o< e*lusieness The ro9al blue elet*op9 ?as

sold to 3uanita 'eigh in 3anuar9, "#"8 + am sorr9 + *annot gie9ou theea*t da9 o< the month, but our re*ords sho? the month onl9 +too thelibert9 o< sho?ing a pi*ture o< the dress to the onl9 sales?omanin the



department ?ho has been ?ith us that long, but she *annotremember thesale T?ele 9ears is a long time, 9ou no?C

C+ndeed it is,C Dundee agreed regret<ull9 CEou hae beenimmensel9help<ul, ho?eer, Miss Thomas, and + than 9ou ?ith all m9heartC

C+< 9ou *ould ;ust tell HmeH--*on<identiall9, o< *ourse,C MissThomas?hispered, C?hat sort o< *lue this dress is--C

C+ donGt no?, m9sel<IC the dete*tie admitted CBut,C he added tohimsel<, a<ter he had es*aped the bu9erGs natural *uriosit9, C+intendto <ind outIC

Be<ore he *ould tae an9 <urther steps along that parti*ular path,ho?eer, Dundee had an appointment to eep 5pon arriing athis hotelthat morning he had made t?o telephone *alls 1e smiled no? as

here*alled the surprise and glee o< one o< his <ormer Eale*lassmates, no?a dis*ouraged 9oung bond salesman, ?ith ?hom he had ept intou*h

CEou ?ant to borro? m9 name and m9 id sisterKC 3imm9Randolph had*hortled C1op to it, old sportI But 9ou might tell me ?hat 9ou

?ant?ith su*h intimate belongings o< mineC

CEou ma9 not no? it,C Dundee had retorted, Cbut 9oung Mr3ames



Jadle9 Randolph, 3r, s*ion o< the <amous old Boston <amil9, isgoingto isit that eLuall9 <amous s*hool, ors9te-on-the-1udson, tosee

?hether it is the ideal <inishing s*hool <or his beloed 9oungsister,Barbara SheGs about <i<teen no?, isnGt she, 3imm9KC

C4oing on siteen, and one o< SatanGs prie hellions,C 3imm9Randolphhad ans?ered CThe <amil9 ?ould be eternall9 grate<ul i< 9ou*ould getors9te to tae her, but mae them promise not to hae an9

more *horusgirls ?ho plan to get murdered, as dire*tors o< their amateurtheatri*als Bab ?ould be sure to be mied up in the mess +supposethatGs the ;ob 9ouGre on, 9ou <lat-<ooted di*, 9ouIC

The se*ond telephone *all had se*ured an appointment at theors9teS*hool <or CMr 3ames Jadle9 Randolph, 3r, o< Boston,C and

Dundee,rather relishing his <irst need <or su*h pro<essional ta*ti*s, relaedto en;o9 the ten-mile drie along the 1udson

+t ?as a Luarter to t?ele ?hen his tai s?ept up the drieto?ard thebig gre9-stone, turreted building, sedatel9 lonel9 in the midst o<itsaluable a*res

CMiss (arle sa9s to *ome to the o<<i*e,C a *olored maid told him,?henhe had gien his borro?ed name, and led him <rom the ast hallto a



<airl9 large room, ?hose ?indo?s looed upon a tennis *ourt, and?hose?alls ?ere almost *oered ?ith group pi*tures o< graduating*lasses,

photographs o< amateur theatri*al per<orman*es, and portraitstudies o< alumnae

A er9 thin, sharp-<a*ed ?oman o< about <ort9, ?ith red-rimmede9es?hi*h peered nearsightedl9, rose <rom an old-<ashioned roll-topdes and*ame <or?ard to greet him

C+ am Miss (arle, Miss endletonGs priate se*retar9,C she toldhim, ashe shoo her bon9, *lamm9 hand C+ should hae told 9ou ?hen9outelephoned this morning that both Miss endleton and Miss Ma*onsailed<or (urope 9esterda9 Je al?a9s hae our *ommen*ement thelast Tuesda9

in Ma9, 9ou no? But i< there is an9thing + *an do <or 9ou----C

C+ should lie to no? something at <irst hand o< the histor9 o<thes*hool, its--?ell, prestige, spe*ial adantages, *urri*ulum, and soon,CDundee began depre*atingl9

C+ should *ertainl9 be able to ans?er an9 Luestion 9ou ma9 ?ish

to as,Mr Randolph, sin*e + hae been ?ith the s*hool <or <i<teen 9ears,CMiss(arle interrupted tartl9



CThen ors9te must tae 9ounger pupils than + had been led tobeliee,Miss (arle,C Dundee said, ?ith his most ?inning smile

C+ ?as neer a pupil here,C the se*retar9 *orre*ted him, but shetha?edisibl9 C< *ourse, + ?as a mere *hild ?hen + <inished businesss*hool,but + HhaeH been here <i<teen 9ears--<i<teen 9ears o< ?at*hingri*hso*iet9 girls da?dle a?a9 <our or <ie 9ears, ;ust be*ause the9Gegotto be Hsome?hereH be<ore the9 mae their debut But +

mustnGt tallie that, or +Gll gie 9ou a ?rong impression, Mr Randolph < itsind, it is reall9 a er9 <ine s*hool--er9 e*lusieF riding masters,dan*ing masters, a gol< GproG and our o?n gol< *ourse, natietea*hers<or ren*h, +talian, 4erman and Spanish h, the Hs*hoolH is allright, and ?ill probabl9 not su<<er an9 loss o< prestige on a**ounto< that dread<ul murder out in the Middle Jest----C

CMurderKC Dundee e*hoed, as i< he had no idea ?hat she ?astalingabout

C1aenGt 9ou been reading the papersKC Miss (arle rallied him,?ith a*oLuettish smile CBut + donGt suppose Boston bothers ?ith su*hsordid

things,C she added, her thin-lipped mouth tightening CMissendleton?as all *ut up about it, be*ause Mrs Selim, or 3uanita 'eigh, asshe?as no?n on Broad?a9, had dire*ted our (aster pla9 the lastt?o 9ears,



and the reporters simpl9 hounded us the <irst t?o da9s a<ter she?asmurdered out in 1amilton, ?here a number o< our ri*hest girlshae *ome

<rom----C

CB9 3oeIC Dundee e*laimed CJas the Selim ?oman *onne*ted?ith thiss*hool, reall9K + onl9 read the headlines--neer pa9 mu*hattentionto murders in the papers--C

C+ ?ish,C Miss (arle interrupted tartl9, <resh tears reddening her

e9es,Cthat people ?ouldnGt persist in re<erring to her as Gthat Selim?omanG Jhen + thin ho? s?eet and <riendl9 she ?as, ho?--ho? HindHIC and to DundeeGs surprise she *hoed on tears be<ore she*ouldgo on: C< *ourse + no? itGs dread<ul <or the s*hool, and + oughtnotto tal about it, ?hen 9ouGe *ome to see about putting 9our

sister intothe s*hool, but ita ?as Hm9 <riendH, and it simpl9 maes me H?ildH----C

CEou admired and lied her er9 mu*hKC Dundee ased, <orgettinghis role<or the moment

CEes, + didI And Miss endleton lied her, too And 9ou *an

imagine ho?*leer and popular she ?as, ?hen a ?onder<ul ?oman lie MrseterDunlap, ?ho ?as 'ois Morro? ?hen she ?as in s*hool here,admired her somu*h she too her to 1amilton ?ith her to dire*t pla9s <or a 'ittle



Theater Jh9, + neer met an9one + ?as so *ongenial ?ithIC these*retar9 ?ent on passionatel9 CThe girls here snub me andmae sill9 ;oes about me behind m9 ba* and *all me ni*names, but ita

?as ;ustas s?eet to me as she ?as to an9one--een Miss endletonhersel<IC

CJere 9ou ?ith her mu*hKC Dundee dared as

CHJith her mu*hKH + should sa9 + ?asIC she asserted proudl9C+ haea room here, lie here the 9ear Ground, and both 9ears ita

shared m9room, so she ?ould not hae to mae the long trip ba* to e?Eor eer9night during the last ?ee o< rehearsals Je used to tal until t?oorthree oG*lo* in the morning--Sa9IC she broe o<<, in suddenterrorCEou arenGt a reporter, are 9ouKC

CA reporterK 4ood 'ord, noIC Dundee denied, in all sin*erit9 Thenhemade up his mind s?i<tl9 This ?oman hated the s*hool and all*onne*ted?ith it, had gro?n more and more sour and en9-bitten eer99ear o< the<i<teen she had sered here--and she lied ita 'eigh Selim betterthanan9one she had eer met The opportunit9 <or dire*t Luestioning

?as toomira*ulous to be ignored So he *hanged his tone suddenl9 andsaid er9earnestl9: Co, + am not a reporter, Miss (arle But + am HnotH3ames



Jadle9 Randolph, 3r + am 3ames Dundee, spe*ial inestigatoratta*hedto the o<<i*e o< the distri*t attorne9 o< 1amilton, and + ?ant 9outo

help me sole the m9ster9 o< Mrs SelimGs murderC

+t too nearl9 ten pre*ious minutes <or Dundee to nurse theterri<iedbut obiousl9 thrilled ?oman oer the sho*, and to get her intothemood to ans?er him <reel9

CBut + shanGt and H*anGtH tell 9ou an9thing bad about itaIC she

protested ehementl9, ?iping her red-rimmed e9es CThe papersare allsa9ing no? that she got "0,000 <or double-*rossing some a?<ulra*eteernamed GS?allo?-tail Samm9G, but + Hno?H she didnGt get themone9 that?a9I She ?as too good----C

Crom itaGs *on<iden*es to 9ou, do 9ou hae an9 idea ho? she

did getthe mone9KC Dundee ased

Miss (arle shoo her head C+ donGt no?, but she got ithonorabl9 +no? thatI Ma9be she <ound her husband and made him pa9alimon9----C

Dundee *ontrolled his e*itement ?ith di<<i*ult9 CDid she tell 9ou

allabout her marriage and dior*eKC

Again Miss (arle shoo her head CThe onl9 time she eer spoeo< it ?as



last 9ear--the <irst 9ear she dire*ted our pla9, 9ou no? + asedher?h9 she didnGt get married again, and she said she *ouldnGt--she?asnGt

dior*ed, be*ause she didnGt no? ?here her husband ?as, and it?as tooepensie to go to Reno < *ourse she ma9 hae <ound him orsomething--and got a dior*e some time this last 9ear, and thismone9she got ?as a settlement----C

CShe must hae got a dior*e, sin*e she ?as planning to bemarried again

to a 9oung man in 1amilton,C Dundee assured her soothingl9

CThe ?a9 eer9bod9 puts the er9 ?orst interpretation oneer9thing,?hen a person gets murderedIC Miss (arle stormed C+< poor itahadbelonged to a ri*h <amil9, lie the girls here, the9 ?ould haespent amillion i< ne*essar9 to hush up an9 s*andal on herI +Ge seen it

doneIC she added, darl9 and enomousl9

)1AT(R TJ(TE-+N(

Bonnie DundeeGs heart leaped, but he <or*ed himsel< to go so<tl9

C+suppose,C he said *asuall9, Ca <ashionable s*hool lie this hasplent9o< *are<ull9 hushed-up s*andals----C

C+Gll sa9 it hasIC Miss (arle retorted inelegantl9, and ?ith ghoulish



satis<a*tion CHMone9H *an do an9thingI +t maes m9 bloodsimpl9 boil?hen + thin o< ho? those ors9te girls in 1amilton--so smug andsnobbish in their hi* to?n Gso*iet9G--must be running poor ita

do?n,no? that sheGs dead and *anGt de<end hersel<I +< the truth ?ereonl9no?n about some o< HthemH----C

Dundee *ould almost hae embra*ed the homel9, li<e-souredspinster--she?as maing his tas so eas9 <or him

C+Ge met them all, o< *ourse, sin*e Mrs Selim ?as murdered,C hesaiddepre*atingl9, Cand + must sa9 the9 seem to be remarabl9 <ine?omen andgirls----C

Ch HareH the9KC Miss (arle snorted Clora 1a*ett--Mrs Tra*e9Milesshe is no?--didnGt happen to tell 9ou the ni*e little <uss HsheH

i*edup ?hen she ?as here, did sheK h, noI + guess notIC

CShe loos,C Dundee agreed, Clie a girl ?ho ?ould hae madethingsliel9C

C+Gll sa9 soI Miss endleton nearl9 had nerous prostrationIC Miss(arle

plunged on, then <ear blan*hed her <a*e <or a moment CEou no?9ouGepromised 9ouGll neer tell Miss endleton or Miss Ma*on that 9outaledto meIC



CEou *an depend on it that + ?ill prote*t 9ou,C Dundee assuredherCJhen did lora 1a*ett i* up her little <ussKC

C'etGs see lora graduated in 3une, "#20,C Miss (arle obliged?illingl9 CSo it must hae been in "#"#--9es, be*ause she hadone more9ear here < *ourse the9 let her *ome ba*I HMone9IH Shetoo thelead in our annual (aster pla9 in "#"#, and ;ust be*ause Serena1art*omplimented her and told her she ?as almost as good as apro<essional--C

CHSerena 1artIHC Dundee ?onderingl9 repeated the name o< oneo< Ameri*aGs most popular and beloed stage stars

CEes--Serena 1art,C Miss (arle repeated proudl9 CShe ?as aors9tegirl, too, and o< *ourse she HdidH go into the *horus hersel<, a<tershe

graduated in--letGs see--"#"O, be*ause it ?as the se*ond 9eara<ter +Gd*ome to ?or here--and Miss endleton nearl9 died, be*ause she?asa<raid ors9teGs pre*ious prestige ?ould be lo?ered, but ?henSerenabe*ame a star eer9thing ?as grand, o< *ourse, and ors9te ?asproud to*laim her An9?a9, Serena *omes to the (aster pla9 eer9 9ear

she*an, i< she isnGt in a Broad?a9 pla9 hersel<, o< *ourse, and so shesa?lora a*ting in the (aster pla9 in "#"#, and told her she ?asa?<ull9good She ?as, too, but not hal< the a*tress that little enn9 )rain



?as, ?hen she had the lead in the pla9 <our or <ie 9ears agoC

DundeeGs heart begged him to as <or more details o< enn9Gstriumph,

but his ;ob demanded that he eep the no? too-oluble Miss(arle to thebusiness in hand

CAnd lora 1a*ett----KC he prompted

CJell, the net da9 a<ter the pla9 the (aster a*ation began, 9ouno?,and lora H<orgedH a letter <rom her <ather, giing her permission

tospend the ten-da9sG (aster holida9 ?ith one o< the girls ?ho liedinAtlanta,C Miss (arle *ontinued, ?ith great relish CJell, sir, right inthe middle o< the holida9s, here *ame her <ather and mother--the9 ?ereboth alie then--and ased <or loraI The9 ?ired the girl inAtlanta,and lora ?asnGt there, and the 1a*etts ?ere nearl9 *ra9 But

as lu*?ould hae it, Mr 1a*ett ran into a <riend o< theirs on Broad?a9,andthis <riend began to tease Mr 1a*ett about his daughterGs beinga*horus girlIC

CA *horus girlIC Dundee e*hoed, taing *are not to sho? hisdisappointment

C< *ourse the9 nabbed her right out o< the sho?, but that ?asnGtthe?orst o< itIC Miss (arle ?ent on dramati*all9 and m9steriousl9CThe9



tried to hush it up, o< *ourse, but the ?ord ?ent through thes*hoollie ?ild<ire that lora ?asnGt onl9 in the *horus, but that she ?as Hliing ?ith an a*torH sheGd been ?riting <an letters to long be<ore

the(aster pla9 ?ent onIC

CDid 9ou hear his nameKC Dundee ased

Co,C Miss (arle a*no?ledged regret<ull9 CBut +Gll bet an9thing it?asthe truthI Jh9, lora 1a*ett ?as so man-*ra9 she <lirteds*andalousl9 ?ith eer9 male tea*her in the s*hool The gol< GproG

?ehad then got so s*ared o< her he Luit his ;obIC

C+ suppose,C Dundee prompted *ra<til9, Cshe ?asnGt an9 ?orsethan someo< the other 1amilton girlsC

CJe-ell,C Miss (arle admitted relu*tantl9, Cnothing eer H*ameoutH on

an9 o< the others, but it looed might9 <unn9 to me ?hen 3anetRa9mondGsmother too her out o< s*hool right in the middle o< a term andhauledher o<< to (urope H<or a ?hole 9earHI + guess,C--she suggested,?ithraised e9ebro?s, C9ou no? ?hat it Husuall9H means ?hen a girlhas tospend a ?hole 9ear abroad, and her mother sa9s sheGs taing her

a?a9 <orher health--and 3anet looing as health9 as an9 other girl in thes*hool, e*ept that she ?as *r9ing hal< the time, and smugglingspe*ialdelier9 letters in and out b9 one o< the maids--C



CDid 9ou tell ita these stories and point out the pi*tures o< thegirlsKC Dundee had to ris asing

Miss (arle <roe instantl9 Caturall9 she ?as interested in the

s*hool,and on*e ?hen she said it al?a9s made her mad the ?a9 *horusgirls ?ererun do?n, + told her that in m9 opinion so*iet9 girls ?ere ?orsethana*tresses, and--?ell, o< *ourse + gae her some eamples, a lot o<them?orse than an9thing +Ge told 9ou about lora 1a*ett and 3anetRa9mond + hope,C she added i*iousl9, Cthat ita dropped a

hint ort?o i< lora or 3anet had the nere to high-hat her ?hen she ?asin1amiltonIC

Cerhaps she did,C Dundee agreed so<tl9 CB9 the ?a9, ho? diditahappen to get the ;ob here o< dire*ting the (aster pla9sKC

CThatGs ?hat the reporters ?anted to no?,C Miss (arle smiledCBut Missendleton ?ouldnGt tell them, <or <ear Serena ?ouldnGt lie it, andma9be be dra?n into the s*andal, ?hen eer9bod9 no?s sheGsas straightas a string----C

CDid Serena 1art get her the ;obKC Dundee ?as amaed

CEes Jait, +Gll sho? 9ou the letter o< re*ommendation she?rote <orita to Miss endleton,C Miss (arle o<<ered eagerl9 CRemember,no?,9ouGre not to tell on meIC



She ?ent to a tall ?alnut <iling *abinet, and Lui*l9 returned ?ithanote, ?hi*h she thrust into DundeeGs ?illing hands 1e read:

HCDear Miss endleton: The bearer, 3uanita 'eigh, is ratherbadl9 in need o< a ;ob, and + hae suggested that she appl9 to 9ou<or a *han*e to dire*t the (aster pla9 + hae no?n Miss 'eigh personall9 <or ten 9ears, and hae the highest regard, both <or her *hara*ter and <or her abilit9 Sin*e 9ou usuall9 stage musi*al *omedies, + thin Miss 'eigh, ?ho has been aspe*ialt9

dan*er as ?ell as an a*tress in musi*al *omed9 <or aboutt?ele 9ears, ?ould be admirabl9 suited <or the ?or 7no?ing m9loe <or ors9te as 9ou do, + do not hae to assure 9ou that +?ould suggest nothing ?hi*h ?ould be detrimental to the s*hoolGsbest interests ondl9 9ours, Serena 1artCH

CShe ?as ?rong there, but + no? it ?asnGt itaGs <ault,C Miss(arle,?ho had been looing oer his shoulder, *ommented upon thelast senten*eo< the letter

C+s Miss 1art appearing in a pla9 no?KC Dundee ased

Co, but sheGs rehearsing in one--GTemptationG--?hi*h ?ill open attheJarburton Theater net Monda9 night,C the se*retar9 ans?eredCAt*ommen*ement Tuesda9 night, Serena told Miss endleton ho?a?<ull9 sorr9



she ?as about ita, and gae me ti*ets <or the opening Eougo tosee her, but donGt tell her H+H told 9ou an9thing + no? sheGsrehearsing at the theater this a<ternoon, be*ause she said she

?ould beall ?ee, and *ouldnGt go to the boat to see Miss endleton andMissMa*on o<< <or (uropeC

C+ ?illIC Dundee a**epted the suggestion grate<ull9, as i< it hadnoto**urred to him CBut <irst + ?ant 9ou to *ome out to lun*h ?ithme +Gm

sure 9ou no? o< some ni*e tearoom or roadhouse in theneighborhoodC

During the lun*heon, ?hi*h Miss (arle deoured aidl9, ?ithoutitsinter<ering ?ith her <lo? o< reminis*en*es *on*erning the girls shehated, Dundee ?as able to learn nothing more to the detriment o< ors9teGs 1amilton alumnae, but he did add *onsiderabl9 to hisno?ledge

and pit9 o< <emale human nature

+t ?as nearl9 three oG*lo* ?hen he presented his *ard, ?ith amessagepen*illed upon its ba*, to the aged dooreeper ?ho dro?sed inthe alle9?hi*h led to the stage entran*e o< the Jarburton Theater, ;ust o<< Broad?a9 near Times SLuare, and <i<teen minutes later he ?asbeing

re*eied in the starGs dressing-room b9 Serena 1art hersel<

CEouGre ?oring on poor itaGs murderKC she began ?ithoutpreamble, asshe seated hersel< at her dressing-table and indi*ated a de*repit*hair



<or the dete*tie C+ ?as ?ondering ho? mu*h longer + *ould eepout o< it < *ourse 9ouGe been pumping that poor, <oolish irgin--4lad9s

(arle Jh9 girls ?ho loo lie that are al?a9s *alled H4lad9sH--4odI+Gm tiredI JeGe been at it sin*e ten this morning, but than the'ord?eGre through no? <or the da9C

Dundee studied her ?ith een interest, and de*ided that, almostplainthough she ?as, she ?as een more magneti* than ?hen seen

<rom the<ootlights Rather *arelessl9 dressed, long bro?n hair rathertousled, her <a*e er9 pale and haggard ?ithout the mae-up?hi*h ?ouldgie it radian*e on Monda9 night, Serena 1art ?as neerthelessone o< the most attra*tie ?omen Dundee had eer met--and one o< theindest,he <elt suddenl9 sure

CJhen did + <irst meet ita 'eighKC she repeated his LuestionC'et methin--h, 9esI The <irst 9ear a<ter + ?ent on the stage--"#"O Je?erein the *horus together in GTeasing Till9G--a rotten sho?, b9 the?a9The other girls o< the *horus ?ere a?<ull9 snoot9 to me, be*ause+ ?as

that anathema, a Gso*iet9 girlG, but ita ?as a darling Shesho?ed methe ropes, and ?e be*ame Luite intimate--around the theateronl9,ho?eer, sin*e m9 parents ept an a?<ull9 stri*t e9e on me Thesho? ?as



a great hit--ran on into "#"8, till ebruar9 or Mar*h, + belieeC

CThen do 9ou no?, Miss 1art, ?hether ita got married duringthe

?interKC Dundee ased

CJh9, 9es, she didIC Serena 1art ans?ered, her bro? *learinga<ter a<ro?n o< *on*entration C+ *anGt remember ea*tl9 ?hen, but it?asbe<ore the sho? *losed--*ertainl9 a <e? ?ees be<ore, be*ausethe poor*hild ?as a deserted bride da9s be<ore the *losing noti*e ?as

postedC

CDesertedIC Dundee e*laimed CDid 9ou meet her husband, Miss1artKC

Co,C Serena 1art replied CAs a matter o< <a*t, she told meetraordinaril9 little about him, and did not dis*uss her marriage?iththe other girls o< the *horus at all + got the impression that Mr

Selim--Mat, she *alled him--?anted it ept se*ret <or a ?hile, but+donGt no? ?h9 This ?as earl9 in "#"8, as +Ge told 9ou,though +hae no ?a9 o< <iing een the approimate date, and e? Eor?as <ullo< soldiers + remember + ;umped to the *on*lusion that ita hadsu**umbed to a ?ar roman*e, but + donGt thin she said an9thingto

*on<irm m9 suspi*ionC

CJhen did she tell 9ou o< her marriage--that is, ?hen--in relationtothe date o< the ?edding itsel<KC Dundee ased



CThe er9 da9 she ?as married,C Serena 1art ans?ered CShe?as late <orthe matinee ur dressing-tables ?ere side b9 side, and as sheslipped

out o< her dress----C

CThis dressKC Dundee ased, and handed her the photograph o<dead itain the ro9al blue elet dress she had ept <or t?ele 9ears

CEes,C and Serena 1art shuddered CAnd her hair ?as dressed liethat,too, although she had been ?earing it in long *urls, and had to

tae itdo?n be<ore she ?ould go on <or the opening number She?hispered to methat she had been married that da9, that she ?as terribl9 happ9,er9mu*h in loe, and that her husband had ased her to dress herhair inthe ren*h roll, a <aorite hair-dress ?ith him Bet?een numbersshe

?hispered to me again, telling me that her husband ?as Gsodi<<erentG,Gsu*h a lambG--totall9 unlie an9 man she had met on Broad?a9,poor*hild or she ?as a *hild still--onl9 t?ent9, but she had been inthe Gsho? businessG sin*e she ?as a motherless, <atherless littledri<ter o< siteen o, she did not tell me ho? old he ?as,?here he*ame <rom, his business, or ?hat he looed lie, and + did not

inLuireAs the da9s passed--?ees, probabl9, she be*ame more andmore silent andresered, though on*e or t?i*e she protested she ?as stillGterribl9



happ9G Then *ame a da9 ?hen she did not sho? up <or theper<orman*e atall The net night she told me--in ;ust a <e? ?ords, that herhusband

had le<t her, a<ter a Luarrel, and had not returned +t seems thatshehad inno*entl9 told him ho? she had GampedG Benn9 Stein<eld,the bigreue produ*er, 9ou no?, into giing her a GspotG in his summersho?,and that her GMatG had <lo?n into a rage, a**using her o< haingbeenuntrue to him She neer mentioned his desertion to me again,

but----C

CEesKC Dundee prompted

CJell,C Serena 1art ?ent on, un*om<ortabl9, C+Gm a<raid + rather<orgotpoor ita a<ter GTeasing Till9G *losed, <or m9 net ?or ?as insto* inDes Moines A<ter a 9ear o< sto* + got m9 *han*e in a legitimate

sho?on Broad?a9, and one da9 + met her on the street ot haingmu*h total ?ith her about, + ased her i< she and her husband ?erere*on*iledShe said no, that she had neer seen him again Then, in a bursto< *on<iden*e, she told me that she had hired a priate dete*tie outo<

her meager earnings to inestigate him in his home to?n, orrather the*it9 he had told her he *ame <rom The dete*tie had reportedthat nosu*h person as Mat or Matthe? Selim had eer lied there, so <aras he



*ould <ind out + ased her i< she ?as going to get a dior*e andshesaid she ?as not--that being alread9 married ?as a prote*tionagainst

getting married in haste again A<ter that, + rather lost sight o<ita,and pra*ti*all9 <orgot her, our paths being so er9 diergentC

CAnd 9ou neer sa? her againKC Dundee ased, er9 mu*hdisappointed

Ch, 9es, t?o or three times--at openings, or on the street, but?e

neer held an9 signi<i*ant *onersation,C Serena 1art ans?ered,rea*hing<or her plain, rather do?d9 little hat CJaitI + ?as about to <orgetI+had Luite a sho* in *onne*tion ?ith ita ne a<ternoon--letGssee,that ?as ?hen + opened in G1ullabaloo,G in ?hi*h + made m9 <irstrealsu**ess, 9ou no?--+ bought HThe e? Eor (ening StarH,

?hi*h deotes*onsiderable spa*e to theatri*al doings, to see ?hat sort o< reie?thesho? had got, and on the <irst page + sa? a pi*ture o< ita,beneath aheadline ?hi*h said, Gamous Model )ommits Sui*ideG----C

CJhatIC Dundee e*laimed, astounded

Ch, it ?asnGt ita 'eigh,C Serena 1art reassured him CThere ?asa*orre*tion the net da9 Eou see, an artistsG model named Anita'ee--spelled '-e-e, instead o< 'e-i-g-h--had *ommitted sui*ide,and, as



the HStarH eplained it the net da9, the similarit9 o< both the<irstname and the last had *aused the error in getting a photograph<rom the

GmorgueG to a**ompan9 the stor9 There ?as a pi*ture o< ita'eigh, ?ithitaGs statement that Gthe report o< m9 death has beeneaggerated,G anda pi*ture o< the real Anita 'eeC

CJhen did the mistae o**urKC Dundee ased, in greate*itement

C'et me thinIC Serena 1art <ro?ned CG1ullabalooG opened in--9es, aboutthe <irst o< Ma9, "#22 3ust a little more than eight 9ears agoC

Dundee rea*hed <or his o?n hat, in a <eer to be gone, but to hissurprise the a*tress stopped him, a <aint *olor in her pale *hees

CSin*e 9ouGre <rom 1amilton, and are inestigating the murder,9ou hae

undoubtedl9 met little enelope )rainKC

C+ no? her er9 ?ell +t happens that she is priate se*retar9 tothedistri*t attorne9, under ?hom + ?or Jh9KC

C+ sa? her pla9 the lead in the (aster sho? at ors9te <our or <ie9ears ago,C Miss 1art eplained, her <a*e turned <rom thedete*tie as

she dusted it ?ith po?der, Cand + ?as impressed ?ith her talent+n<a*t, + adised her <ather, ?ho had *ome <rom 1amilton to?itness theper<orman*e, as proud parents are liel9 to do, to let her go onthe



stageC

CSo 9ou met Roger )rainKC Dundee paused to as

Ch, 9es A *harming man, ?ith een more personalit9 than hisdaughter,C the a*tress ans?ered *arelessl9, so *arelessl9 thatDundeehad a sudden hun*h

C1ae 9ou seen Mr )rain re*entl9K 1e deserted his <amil9 and<led1amilton, under rather unsaor9 *ir*umstan*esC

CJhat do 9ou meanKC Miss 1art ased sharpl9

Ch, there ?as nothing a*tuall9 *riminal, + suppose, but he isbelieedto hae ?ithheld some se*urities ?hi*h ?ould hae helped satis<9his*reditors, ?hen banrupt*9 ?as imminent,C Dundee eplainedC1ae 9ouseen him sin*e then--3anuar9 it ?as, + belieeKC

C3anuar9KC Miss 1art appeared to need time <or re<le*tion Ch,9esI 1esent in his *ard on the G<irst nightG o< m9 sho? that opened in3anuar9 +t ?as a <lop--lasted onl9 <ie ?ees Je *hatted o<theors9te girls ?ho are no? in 1amilton, most o< ?hom + ?ent tos*hool?ith or hae met at the (aster pla9sC

CDo 9ou no? ?here Mr )rain is no?KC Dundee ased C+ hae amessage<or him <rom enn9--i< 9ou should happen to see him again----C



CJh9 HshouldH + see him againKC Miss 1art shrugged CAnd +haenGt theleast idea ?here he is liing or ?hat he is doing no? < *ourse,i<

he should *ome to see me ba*stage a<ter GTemptationG opens--Jhat is themessage <rom enn9KC

CThat her mother ?ants him to *ome home,C Dundee ans?eredCAnd + amer9 sure enn9 ?ants him ba*, too The mother is one o< thes?eetest, gentlest, most tragi* ?omen + hae eer met--and 9ouhae seen

enn9 <or 9oursel< The disgra*e has been er9 hard on them +t?ouldbe splendid i< Roger )rain ?ould *ome ba* and redeem himsel<C

1al< an hour later Bonnie Dundee, in the <ile room o< HThe e?Eor(ening StarH, ?as in possession o< the bound olume o< thatne?spaper<or the month o< Ma9, "#22 n the <ront page o< the issue o< Ma9

%,under the *aption ?hi*h Serena 1art had Luoted so a**uratel9,?as api*ture o< a 9oung, laughing ita 'eigh, her *urls bobbed short, arosebet?een her gleaming teeth And in the issue o< Ma9 $ appearedt?opi*tures side b9 side--eoti*, straight-haired, slant-e9ed Anita'ee,

?ho had <ound li<e so insupportable that she had ended it, andthe samephotograph o< liing, ital ita 'eigh

Jhen he returned the <iles he ased the girl in *harge:



CDoes this *op9right line beneath this pi*ture--C and he pointed tothephotograph o< ita ?hi*h had appeared erroneousl9, C--mean thatthe

pi*ture ?as s9ndi*atedKC

The girl bent her head to see CG)op9right b9 Metropolitan i*tureSeri*eG,C she read aloud CEes, thatGs ?hat it means Jhen HThe(eningStarH ?as o?ned b9 Mr Magnus, he <ormed a separate *ompan9*alled theMetropolitan i*ture Seri*e, ?hi*h supplied papers all oer the*ountr9

?ith a dail9 pi*ture seri*e, in mat <orm But the pi*tures9ndi*ate ?asdis*ontinued about <ie 9ears ago ?hen the paper ?as sold to itspresento?nersC

CAre their <iles aailableKC Dundee ased

C+< the9 are, + donGt no? an9thing about it,C the girl told him,

andturned to another seeer a<ter bound olumes o< the paper

C+t doesnGt matter,C Dundee assured her, and ased <or a sheet o<blanpaper, on ?hi*h he Lui*l9 *omposed the <ollo?ing telegram,addressed toenn9 )rain:

C'(AS( S(AR)1 +'(S A'' T1R(( 1AM+'T A(RS J((7 MAE 5RT1 T ('(N(T1 E(AR +(T(( TJ(TE TJ R STREAD +)T5R(S S5+)+D( A+TA '(( ART+STS MD(' ST SAE T1+4 TAE( T (N(



SAD(RS + 1( +S T1(R( ST J+R( R(S5'TC

+n his hotel, ?hile impatientl9 a?aiting an ans?er <rom enn9,Dundee

passed the time b9 s*anning all the e? Eor papers o< Thursda9andrida9, on the *han*e o< meeting ?ith signi<i*ant reelations*on*erningthe priate li<e o< Deter Sprague or 3uanita 'eigh Selim unitedb9death--in the press, at least There ?as mu*h spa*e deoted tothetheor9 inoling the t?o e? Eorers ?ith the murder o< the

ra*eteerand gambler, CS?allo?-tail Samm9C Saelli, but onl9 t?o pie*eso< in<ormation held DundeeGs interest

The <irst ?as a reminder to the publi* that *ertain theatri*al*olumnso< Sunda9, ebruar9 #, had *arried the rumor o< Deter SpragueGsengagement to Doll9 Martin, popular Cbab9C star o< Altamont

i*tures,and that the same *olumns o< Tuesda9, ebruar9 "", had *arriedSpragueGso?n denial o< the engagement--Doll9 haing Cnothing to sa9C

CSo that is ?h9 ita tried to *ommit sui*ide on ebruar9 #--andherattempted sui*ide, ?ith its tragi* *onseLuen*es <or '9dia )arr, isprobabl9 the reason Sprague gae up his moie star,C Dundee

mused CDidita let him persuade her to go into the bla*mail business, inorder tohold his ?andering, mer*enar9 a<<e*tionsK 'ordI The men some?omenloeIC



The se*ond bit o< in<ormation ?hi*h the papers supplied him ?as?inno?edb9 Dundee himsel<, <rom a ne?s summar9 o< ita 'eighGs last

9ear o< li<eas *horus girl, spe*ialt9 dan*er, CdoubleC in pi*tures, and dire*toro< the (aster pla9 at ors9te-on-the-1udson

C+< ita got a dior*e or een a legal separation <rom her husbanda<terher tal ?ith 4lad9s (arle a 9ear ago, she got it in e? Eor andso

se*retl9 that no e? Eor paper has been able to dig it up,CDundee*on*luded CHAnd 9et she had promised to marr9 Ralph1ammondIHC

A bellbo9 ?ith a telegram interrupted the startling ne? train o<thought?hi*h that *on*lusion had started

)1AT(R TJ(TE-S+Q

Jith a sharp e*lamation o< e*itement and triumph, Dundeeread enn9Gstelegram:

C1AM+'T (N(+4 S5 DAT( MAE +T1 +(T((TJ(TE TJ 5B'+S1(D STRE S5+)+D( A+TA '(( ART+STS MD('B5T +)T5R(



A))MAE+4 JAS 5D5BT(D'E +TA '(+41 S('+MGSST )RR()T+ ''J(D ST J1AT D(S +T M(AC

CJhat does it meanKC Dundee repeated eultantl9 to himsel< C+tmeans,m9 darling little enn9, that Han9one in 1amilton ?ho had an9interestin the matter belieed ita 'eigh Selim ?as dead, and thoughtthespelling o< her name ?as ?rong, not the pi*ture itsel<HI TheLuestionis H?hoH read that stor9 and gaed on that pi*ture ?ith eLuisite

relie<KC

T?o hours be<ore he had dismissed as impossible or highl9impra*ti*alhis impulse to inestigate the eleen-9ear-old s*andal on lora1a*ett,?ho ?as no? lora Miles, as told him b9 4lad9s (arle o< theors9teS*hool (en more di<<i*ult ?ould it be to <ind out ?h9 3anet

Ra9mondGsmother had taen her abroad <or a 9ear < *ourse--he hadrue<ull9 toldhimsel<--ita 'eigh might hae been lu*9--or unlu*9 enough toruna*ross do*umentar9 proo< o< one o< the s*andals o< ?hi*h 4lad9s(arlehad told her, or had dared to bla*mail her i*tim b9 dar hints,as

Miss (arle had un*ons*iousl9 suggested to her

But this ne? deelopment *ould not be ignored A pi*ture o< ita'eighas a sui*ide had appeared eight 9ears ago in a 1amilton paper,and the



paper had either remained una?are o< the error or had thought itnot?orth the spa*e <or a *orre*tion H(ight 9ears agoIH

(ight 9ears ago in 3une three ?eddings had o**urred in 1amiltonITheDunlap, the Miles, the Drae ?edding And ?ithin the last 9earand ahal< 3udge Marshall, a<ter proposing season a<ter season to themostpopular debutante, had married loel9 little 7aren lummerSuddenl9 asenten*e <rom Ralph 1ammondGs stor9 o< his engagement to ita

'eighSelim popped up in DundeeGs memor9: CAnd on*e + got *old-si*be*ause +thought she might still be married, but she said her husband hadmarriedagain, and + ?asnGt to as Luestions or ?orr9 about himC

+< Ralph 1ammond had reported ita a**uratel9 she had not saidshe ?as

Hdior*edH She had merel9 said her husband ?as HmarriedagainHI Jh9 ?asRalph to as no LuestionsK Dior*ed ?ies ?ere not usuall9 soreti*ent

1ad ita planned to *ommit the *rime o< bigam9K +< not, ?henand ?hereand ho? had she se*ured a dior*eK

To Serena 1art, 9ears be<ore, she had denied an9 intention o<getting adior*e, <or t?o reasons--Hbe*ause she did not no? ?here herhusband?asH, and be*ause, being married although husbandless, ?as aprote*tion



against matrimonial temptations

To 4lad9s (arle, a 9ear ago in April, she had *on<ided that she*ould

not marr9 again, be*ause she ?as not dior*ed and be*ause shedid notno? the ?hereabouts o< her husband

And so <ar as e? Eor reporters had been able to <ind out, ita'eighhad done nothing to alter her status as a married ?oman duringthe past9ear Moreoer, i< ita had se*ured either a dior*e or a legal

separation, her C<aith<ul and beloed maid,C '9dia )arr, ?ould*ertainl9hae no?n o< it And '9dia had ehementl9 protested more thanon*e toBonnie Dundee that she ne? nothing o< itaGs husband,although she had?ored <or the musi*al *omed9 dan*er <or <ie 9ears Surel9 i<ita,loing and trusting '9dia as she did, had entered into negotiations

o< an9 ind ?ith or *on*erning her husband during the last 9ear, hermaid?ould hae been the <irst to no? o< them And 9et----

Suddenl9 Dundee ;umped to his <eet and began to pa*e the <looro< hishotel bedroom 1e ?as remembering the belated *on<iden*e that3ohn )

Drae, baner, had made to him the morning be<ore--a<ter thedis*oer9o< Deter SpragueGs murder 1e re*alled DraeGs relu*tantstatementalmost ?ord <or ?ord:



CAbout that "0,000 ?hi*h ita deposited ?ith our ban,Dundee Jhenshe made the <irst deposit o< .,000 on April 28, she eplained it?ith

an embarrassed laugh as Gba* alimon9G, an instalment o< ?hi*hshe hadsu**eeded in *olle*ting <rom her <ormer husband And, naturall9,?henshe made the se*ond deposit on Ma9 ., + presumed the sameeplanation*oered that sum, too, though + *on<ess + ?as puled b9 the <a*tthatboth big deposits had been made in *ashC

H+n *ashIH

1ad ita, b9 an9 *han*e, been telling a near-truthK 1ad she beenbla*mailing her o?n husband--a husband ?ho had dared marr9again,belieing his deserted ?i<e to be dead--and ;usti<9ing hersel< b9*alling it Cba* alimon9KC

But--?asnGt it, in realit9, no matter ?hat *oer*ion ita had usedingetting the mone9, ea*tl9 thatK HBa* alimon9I And the pri*eo< hersilen*e be<ore the ?orld and the ?i<e ?ho ?as not reall9 a?i<eH

+n a ne? light, Bonnie Dundee studied the *hara*ter o< the?oman ?ho had

been murdered--possibl9 to mae her silen*e eternal

'ois Dunlap had lied, een loed her The other ?omen and girlso< Cthe*ro?dC--that e*lusie, sel<-*entered *liLue o< 1amiltonGs mostso*iall9



prominent ?omen--must hae lied her <airl9 ?ell and <ound her*ongenial, in spite o< their ;ealous9 o< her popularit9 ?ith the meno< the *ro?d, or the9 ?ould not hae tolerated her, regardless o<

'oisDunlapGs *hampionship o< her protegPe

4lad9s (arle had <ound her Cthe s?eetest, indest, mostgenerous person+ eer metC--4lad9s (arle, ?ho enied and hated all girls ?ho?ere more<ortunate than she

Serena 1art, <ormer member o< e? EorGs 3unior 'eague andstill listedin the So*ial Register, had <ound her the onl9 *ongenial membero< the*horus she had inaded as the <irst step to?ard stardom AndSerena 1arthad the reputation o< being a ?oman o< *hara*ter and ;udgment,a indand ?ise and great ?oman

inall9, Ralph 1ammond had loed ita and ?anted to marr9 her

Jas it possible that ita SelimGs onl9 *rime, into ?hi*h she hadbeenled b9 her in<atuation <or Deter Sprague, had been to demand,se*retl9,<inan*ial *ompensation <rom a husband ?ho had married anddeserted her,

a husband ?ho, belieing her dead, had married againK

But ?ho ?as the man ?hose pi*ture--to spin a ne? theor9--itahadre*ognied as that o< her husband among the male members o<the *ast o<



CThe BeggarGs pera,C ?hen 'ois Dunlap had proudl9 ehibitedtheCstillsC o< that amateur per<orman*eK

Jith e*itement hammering at his pulses, Dundee too the bun*ho< photographs ?hi*h 'ois Dunlap had ?illingl9 gien him, andstudied thepi*ture that *ontained the entire *ast--the pi*ture ?hi*h had <irstattra*ted itaGs attention And again despair oer?helmed him,<or eer9one o< his possible male suspe*ts ?as in that group

But he *ould not eep his thoughts <rom ra*ing on Men ?hosteppedout o< their *lass and ?ent on parties ?ith *horus girls <reLuentl9didso under assumed names, he re<le*ted Serena 1art ?asauthorit9 <or thein<ormation that itaGs had been a sudden marriage Jas it notentirel9possible that the man ?ho married ita in "#"8 had done so hal<-

drun,both on liLuor and in<atuation, and that he had not troubled toeplainto ita his moties <or haing used an assumed name or to ?ritein hisreal name on the appli*ation <or a marriage li*enseK 1ad itaGspriatedete*tie ;ourne9ed out to H1amiltonH 9ears ago in a <ruitlessattempt

to lo*ate CMatthe? SelimKC

Bonnie Dundee la9 a?ae <or hours rida9 night turning theseand ahundred other Luestions oer and oer in his too-a*tie mind,and slept



at last, onl9 to a?ae Saturda9 ?ith a plan o< pro*edure ?hi*h he?assensible enough to realie promised small *han*e o< su**ess

And he ?as right ot in Manhattan, or in an9 o< the otherboroughs o< e? Eor )it9, did he <ind an9 re*ord o< a marriage li*ense issuedto3uanita 'eigh and Matthe? Selim ot onl9 ?as it entirel9probable that3uanita 'eigh ?as a stage name and that ita had married*ons*ientiousl9under her real name, but it ?as eLuall9 possible that the li*ense

hadbeen se*ured in e? 3erse9 or )onne*ti*ut

Jhen he gae up his Luest at noon Saturda9 and returned to hishotel,Dundee bought at the ne?sstand a paper ?hose headline*onin*ed him thatSergeant Turner ?as, at that moment, een more dis*ouragedthan himsel<

or the big t9pe told the ?orld:

3( SAN(''+ C4(TSC BRT1(RGS S'AE(R

And smaller headlines in<ormed the sensation-loing publi*:

CSJA''J-TA+' SAMMEC SAN(''+GS D(AT1 AN(4(D BEBRT1(R J1 S5RR(D(RS T '+)(F CS'+)7C T1MS, A''(4(D

M(MB(R SAMMEGS 4A4, S1T T D(AT1 S+QT1 AN(5(

Still smaller head-t9pe a*no?ledged that 3oe Saelli, a<ter giinghimsel< up, ?ith a reoler in his hand, had dis*laimed an9no?ledge o<



or *onne*tion ?ith the murders o< 3uanita 'eigh Selim and DeterSprague

T?o hours later, Dundee re*eied a long telegram <rom Distri*t

Attorne9Sanderson:

C+RM(D BE (N(+4 S5 SAN(''+ A4'( )M'(T(JAS15T ST 1AN( E5 MAD( AE R4R(SS A'4 T1(R '+(S ST 1AN(+RM(D R(RT(RS E5 JR7+4 +D((D(T'E J+T1 STR4)1A)( S'N+4

BT1 )AS(S ST J5'D '+7( E5 1(R( R AD35R(D+5(STS BT1 M5RD(RS MDAE ST MT1(R +MRN(D AM 3BA4A+C

Sin*e Dundee <elt that there ?as little *han*e o< <ollo?ing througheither on the s*andals ?hi*h 4lad9s (arle had hinted at, or onitaGsstrangel9 se*ret marriage o< t?ele 9ears be<ore, he immediatel9

dispat*hed a ?ire to Sanderson, assuring him that ital progresshadbeen made and that he ?ould leae e? Eor on the <our oG*lo*train?est, arriing in 1amilton Sunda9 morning at 8:.0 The*on*ludingsenten*e o< the ?ire ?as:

CS544(ST E5 A)+E R(SS J+T1 'E NA45(ST

1+TSC

SandersonGs ?ire, ?ith its *on<ession o< an interie? on DundeeGstripto e? Eor, had upset him and le<t him ?ith a *old, si* <eelingo<



<ear that, stumbling hal< in darness, the distri*t attorne9 hadun?ittingl9 ?arned the murderer o< ita Selim and DeterSprague thathis spe*ial inestigator ?as on the right tra* But he *onsoled

himsel< ?ith the hope that the <inal senten*e o< his ans?ering telegram?ouldpreent an9 <urther damage

But he ?as ?rong An hour be<ore he rea*hed his destination onSunda9morning he ?ent into the dining *ar and <ound a *op9 o< HThe1amilton

Morning e?sH beside his plate And on the <ront page ?as aphotographo< dead ita, her bla* hair in a ren*h roll, her slim, re*umbentbod9*lad in the ro9al blue elet dress Beneath the pi*ture ?as the*aption:

CJhat part does the outmoded ro9al blue elet dress ?hi*h itaSelim

*hose as a shroud pla9 in the solution o< her murderK That istheLuestion ?hi*h Spe*ial +nestigator Dundee, atta*hed to thedistri*tattorne9Gs o<<i*e, ?ho is due home this morning <rom <ruit<uldete*tie?or in e? Eor, is undoubtedl9 prepared to ans?erC

Dundee ?as still seething ?ith <utile rage ?hen he *limbed the

stairs tohis apartment n the <loor ;ust inside his liing room door he<ound anenelope--unstamped and bearing his name in t9ping



The note inside, on paper as plain as the enelope, ?as t9pedandunsigned

C+< Dete*tie Dundee ?ill *onsult page $"0 o< the latest J1GSJ1 +AM(R+)A, he ?ill <ind a tip ?hi*h should aid him materiall9 insolingthe t?o murder *ases ?hi*h seem to be proing too di<<i*ult <orhisineperien*eC

A ?r9 grin at his anon9mous *orrespondentGs un<riendl9 gibe ?as

;ustt?isting his lips ?hen a double no* sounded on the liing roomdoor,?hi*h he had not *ompletel9 *losed

C)ome in, BelleIC

A morose, sla*-mouthed mulatto girl in an*ient <elt slipperssidled

into the room

C1o?d9, Mistah Dundee,C Belle greeted him listlessl9 CEou gotba*, lade papers said 9ou ?ould, didnG 9uhK AnG + ainGt sa9inG + ainGt gladIDat parrot oG 9oahs sho is 4a?dGs o?n nuisan*e--nippinG at mah<ingahsanG s*ree*hinG his <ool head o<< G)ose + ainGt sa9inG itGs HhisH <ault--eepinG dat 9oung gemman on de se*onG <loG a?ae

lasGnight But la + sa9 to Mistah Jilson, ?hen he lights into me disma?ninG, runninG o<< at de mou< G*ause + <oGgot to put )apGnGs*oah onhis *age lasG night, + ainGt de onliest one ?hat <oGgits in dis h9ar



C1imKC Belle snorted C1o? he gonna get in h9er ?idout no e9KGSides,heGd a-tolG me i<Gn----C

CBelle, ho? man9 times must + as 9ou not to mispla*e m9thingsKC Dundee*ut in irritabl9, <or he ?as tired o< the dis*ussion, and angr9 thathis*op9 o< CJhoGs JhoC ?as missing <rom its *ustomar9 pla*e in theboo*ase

CMeK + ainGt te*hed none oG 9oah things, G*epGn to dusG Gem andla9

Gem do?n ?har + <ounG Gem,C Belle retorted, mourn<ulnesssubmerged inanger

Dundee looed about the room, then his e9es alighted upon themissingboo, l9ing upon a shel< that etended a*ross the top o< anold-<ashioned hot-air register, set high in the ?all bet?een thet?o

?indo?s The thi* red olume la9 *lose against the ?all, itsgold-lettered CribC <a*ing the room

CBelle, tell me the truth, and + shall not be angr9: did 9ou putthatred boo on that shel<KC Dundee ased, his oi*e stead9 andindl9 inspite o< his e*itement

CossuhI + ainGt te*hed itIC

CAnd 9ou did not put the *oer oer m9 parrotGs *age, although +hadtipped 9ou ?ell to <eed )apGn and *oer him at night,C Dundeesaid



seerel9

C+ gotta heap oG ?u to do----C

CAnd 9ou sa9 that Mr Jilson, one o< the t?o 9oung men on these*ond<loor, le<t the <ront door unlo*ed ?hen he *ame in last nightKCDundeeased CDoes he admit itKC

CEassuh,C Belle told him sulil9 C1e sa9 he ?as tiahed ?hen hegot homeGlong Gbout midnight, anG he *lean <oGgot to turn de e9 in de doG

anGshoot de boltC

CThans, Belle That ?ill be all no?,C and Dundee did a great dealtodispel the *hambermaidGs gloom b9 presenting her ?ith a dollarbill

Jhen she had gone, the dete*tie read the note again, then

looedat it and its enelope more *losel9 The9 had a strangel9 <amiliarloo Suddenl9 he ;ered open a dra?er o< his des, on ?hi*hhis ne?noiseless t9pe?riter stood, sele*ted a sheet o< plain ?hite bond,androlled it into the ma*hine ui*l9 he tapped out a *op9 o< thestrange,taunting message

EesI The le<t-hand margin ?as identi*al, the t9ping and its degreeo< bla*ness ?ere identi*al, and the paper on ?hi*h he had madethe *op9



*rossed the room to the shel<, but his hand did not rea*h out <orthered boo, ?hi*h might hae been epe*ted to sole one problem,at least

CHJh9 the shel<KHC he ased himsel< again Jh9 not the destop, or themantelpie*e, or the smoing table beside the big arm*hairK

The shel<, ?ith its draper9 o< rather <ine old sil tapestr9, o<<erednoans?er in itsel<, <or it held nothing e*ept the red boo, a )hinesebo?l, and a humidor o< toba**o And beneath the shel< ?asnothing but

the old-<ashioned register, the opening *oered ?ith a s*re?ed-onmetals*reen ?hi*h ?as a mass o< big holes to permit the es*ape o< hotair?hen the <urna*e ?as going in the ?inter

Suddenl9 Dundee stooped and stared ?ith e9es that ?ere?idened ?ithe*itement and a *ertain amount o< horror Then he rose, and,

standing<ar to one side, pi*ed up the <at olume ?hi*h la9 on the shel<As hehad epe*ted, a bullet ?hied noiselessl9 a*ross the room andburieditsel< in the plaster o< the ?all opposite--a bullet ?hi*h ?ouldhaeploughed through his o?n heart i< he had obe9ed his <irst impulseand

gone dire*tl9 to the shel< to obe9 the instru*tions in the note

But more had happened than the ?hiing <light o< a bulletthrough oneo< the holes o< the hot-air register The CJhoGs JhoC had been ;ered



almost out o< DundeeGs hand be<ore he had li<ted the hea9olume man9in*hes <rom the shel< )oin*idental ?ith the disappearan*e o< a bito<

?hite string ?hi*h had been pinned to a thin page o< the boo?as ametalli* *latter, <ollo?ed s?i<tl9 b9 the <aint sound o< a bump <arbelo?

Dropping CJhoGs JhoC to the <loor, Dundee <lung open his liingroomdoor and ra*ed do?n three <lights o< stairs 1e brought up,panting, at

the door o< the basement +t ?as not lo*ed and in anotherminute he ?asstanding be<ore the big hot-air <urna*e Aboe the <ire bo ?as abigmetal *ompartment--the reseroir <or the heated air And set intothereseroir, to *ondu*t the heat to the regions aboe, ?ere threehugepipes

Jith strength augmented b9 e*itement, Dundee tugged and toreat one o< the pipes until he had dislodged it Then thrusting his hand intotheheat reseroir, he groped until he had <ound ?hat he had no?nmust bethere--H3udge MarshallGs automati*, ?ith the Maim silen*ers*re?ed upon

the end o< its short noseH

At last he held in his hands the ?eapon ?ith ?hi*h ita 'eighSelim andDeter Sprague had been murdered



o< ?hi*h had disappeared ?ith the string that ?as still <astened tothehair-trigger hammer o< the )oltGs %2 Ner9 *leer and er9simpleI The

murderer o< t?o people and the ?ould-be murderer o< a third hadhad onl9to uns*re? the metal *oering o< the register, ?edge the end o<thesilen*er into one o< the man9 holes, repla*e the s*re?s, andpaste theend o< the string, dra?n through another hole hidden b9 thetapestr9, toa page o< the boo he had sele*ted as the one most liel9 to

appeal to adete*tie as a *lue sour*e

o, ?aitI 1e had had to do moreI Dundee bent and eamined themetal*oer o< the register The *ir*um<eren*e o< the hole the murdererhad*hosen as the one ?hi*h ?ould be dire*tl9 in <ront o< DundeeGsheart

gleamed brightl9 +t had been ne*essar9 to enlarge it*onsiderabl9 HThemurderer had le<t a tra*e a<ter allIH

But the boo ?as open in DundeeGs hands and his e9es rapidl9s*annedpage $"0 And he <ound ?hat the murderer had not epe*ted himto lie toread, but ?hi*h he had *ounted on as an eplanation o< the note

?hi*hthe poli*e ?ould hae puled oer, i< all had gone ?ell ?ith hiss*heme



)1AT(R TJ(TE-S(N(

Dundee laughed, the parrot ?hi*h had saed his li<e e*hoing hismirthrau*ousl9, as his e9es hit upon the <ollo?ing lines o< <ine printhal<?a9 do?n the third *olumn o< page $"0 o< CJhoGs Jho inAmeri*aC:

B5RS, Jilliam 3ohn, dete*tieF b Baltimore, *t "#, "86"--

CA taunt and a ;oe ?hi*h turned sour, Gm9 dear JatsonGIC he

eulted tothe parrot CA ;oe + ?as not intended to lie to laugh oerIC

1e *losed the boo and repla*ed it in the boo*ase, *areless o< <ingerprints, <or he ?as sure the murderer had been too *leer toleaean9 behind him in that room--or upon the gun and silen*er either,<orthat matter

+nterestedl9, Dundee sure9ed the s*ene o< his attemptedmurder +< hehad unsuspe*tingl9 gone up to the high shel< to rea*h <or theboo he?ould hae stood so *lose to the register that there ?ould haebeenpo?der burns on his shirt <ront--;ust as there had been on DeterSpragueGs And he ?ould hae been shot so near an open

?indo?--no *han*e<or <ingerprints there, either, sin*e he had not *losed the ?indo?sonhis departure <or e? Eor, not ?ishing to return to a stu<<9apartment--that the poli*e ?ould hae been ;usti<ied in thininghe had



been shot <rom outside +t ?as an old-<ashioned house in more?a9s thanin the manner o< its heating utside o< one o< his t?ouns*reened

?indo?s there ?as an iron grating--the topmost landing o< a <irees*apeDundee *ould imagine )aptain Stra?nGs positieness in pla*ingthemurderer there--*rou*hing in ?ait <or his i*tim

Ees, damned ingenious, this attempted murderI 5ndoubtedl9Stra?n ?ouldhae dismissed the note as the ?or o< a *ran, not hitting upon

the<a*t that it had been ?ritten in that er9 room, on DundeeGs o?nt9pe?riter and stationer9 Stra?n might een hae got amourn<ul sort o< amusement out o< the <a*t that Dundee had been adised to *allupon agreater dete*tie than himsel< <or assistan*eI Ees, ingeniousindeedIAnd so amaingl9 simple----

Suddenl9 the 9oung dete*tie snat*hed <or his hat +< themurderer ?asso ingenious in this *ase, might he not hae been eLuall9 *leerinplanning and ee*uting the murder o< ita 'eigh SelimK

T?ent9 minutes later he pared his *ar in the rutt9 road be<orethe

Selim house in rimrose Meado?s, and honed his horn loudl9 toattra*tthe attention o< the plain*lothesmen )aptain Stra?n had detailedimmediatel9 a<ter the murder to guard the premises during theda9 There



?as no ans?er And a iolent ringing o< the doorbell also broughtnoresponse The guard had been ?ithdra?n, probabl9 to ;oin thesmall arm9

o< plain*lothesmen and patrolmen ?ho had been <oolishl9 and<utilel9sear*hing <or the e? Eor gunman--the e9stone o< )aptainStra?nGseploded theor9

Jith an oath, Dundee used his seleton e9 to release the Ealelo* ?ith?hi*h the <ront door ?as eLuipped Straight do?n the main hall

he ?entand into the little <o9er bet?een the hall and itaGs bedroom 1esnat*hed up the telephone and to his relie< it ?as not dead 1egae thenumber o< )aptain Stra?nGs home, and had the pleasure o<learning thathe had interrupted his <ormer *hie< at a late Sunda9 brea<ast

CJhen did 9ou ?ithdra? the guard <rom the Selim houseKC he

asedabruptl9, *utting short Stra?nGs *ordial ?el*ome-home

C'ate Thursda9 a<ternoon,C the )hie< o< the 1omi*ide SLuadans?eredbelligerentl9 C+ needed all m9 men, and the Selim house hadbeen goneoer ?ith a <ine tooth *omb hal< a doen times Jh9KC

Ch, nothingIC Dundee retorted ?earil9, and hung up the re*eiera<terassuring his old <riend that he ?ould *all on him later in the da9

o use to eplain no? to Stra?n that the murderer had beengien eer9



*han*e to remoe an9 betra9ing tra*es o< his *rime Besides, his<irste*ited hun*h, a<ter his o?n attempted murder, might er9 ?ellbe a

?ild, groundless one +n his--DundeeGs *ase--the impossibilit9 o<themurderGs being dela9ed or arranged so that the dete*tie mightbe slain?hen the ?hole C*ro?dC ?as assembled ?as obious Themurderer had readin a late Saturda9 a<ternoon etra--a *op9 o< ?hi*h ?as no? inDundeeGspo*et--Distri*t Attorne9 SandersonGs boast to the press that his

o<<i*ehad been ?oring on an entirel9 di<<erent theor9 than that ?hi*h*onne*ted the t?o murders ?ith CS?allo?-tail Samm9,C thatSpe*ial+nestigator Dundee, Hepe*ted ba* in 1amilton earl9 Sunda9morningH,had been inestigating ita 'eighGs past li<e in e? Eor AnddespiteDundeeGs telegraphed ?arning, he had hinted sensational

reelations*onne*ted ?ith the t?ele-9ear-old ro9al blue elet dress ?hi*hitahad *hosen to be her shroud And in his desire to reassure thepubli*through the press, Sanderson had m9steriousl9 promised eenmorespe*i<i* reelations than Dundee had a*tuall9 brought home ?ithhim

rodded b9 reporters, Sanderson had admitted that he did nothimsel< no? the nature o< those reelations

The easperated 9oung dete*tie *ould pi*ture the murdererreading those



sensational hints and promises, *ould imagine his pani*, the need<orimmediate a*tion, so that Spe*ial +nestigator Dundee should notlie to

tell the tale o< his e? Eor dis*oeries to the distri*t attorne9 oran9one else

But ?hether he ?as right or ?rong, Dundee determined to giehis hun*h a*han*e 1e ?ent into the oer-ornate bedroom in ?hi*h ita'eigh Selimhad been murdered--shot through the ba* as she sat at herdressing-table po?dering her <a*e +< her murder had been

a**omplishedb9 me*hani*al means, ho? had it been doneK There ?as no hot-air registerhere

rom the dressing-table Dundee ?aled to the ?indo?, upon?hosepale-green <rame there ?as still the tin9 pen*il mar ?hi*h Drri*e

had dra?n, to indi*ate the end o< the path along ?hi*h the bullethadtraeled, proided it had traeled so <ar othing HhereH to aid iname*hani*al murder--

But in a <lash Dundee *hanged his mind or ;ust slightl9 aboethepen*il mar there ?as a small dent in the so<t painted pine o< the

?indo? <rame

And be<ore his mind *ould <rame ?ords and senten*es he thoughthe sa?ho? ita 'eigh had been murdered



othing hereK Hot no?, be*ause he himsel< had taen thelamp to the*ourthouse <or sa<e-eepingH

1e sa? it *learl9 in imagination--that brone <loor-lamp ?hi*h'9dia)arr had gien to ita 'eigh, its big round bo?l studded ?ithgreat ;e?els o< *olored glass And in re*alling eer9 detail o< the lamphesa? ?hat he had dismissed as o< no importan*e at the time, inthee*itement o< <inding that the lampGs bulb had been shattered b9

theCbang or bumpC ?hi*h lora Miles had des*ribed Hne o< the bigglass ;e?els had been missing, leaing an unsightl9 holeH

o ?onder there had been a Cbang or bumpC hard enough to dentthe <rameo< the ?indo?I or i< his hun*h ?as *orre*t, the gun, ?edged intothe

big bo?l, ?ith the silen*er slightl9 protruding <rom the ;e?el-hole,hadCi*ed,C ;ust as it had i*ed an hour be<ore, ?hen it haddislodgeditsel< <rom the hole in the hot-air register and *lattered do?n thebigpipe to the heat reseroir o< the <urna*e

That the big lamp, ?hen he, <ollo?ing Stra?n, had <irst eamined

thes*ene o< itaGs murder, had not stood in <ront o< the ?indo?<rame, didnot dampen DundeeGs e*itement in the least A<ter 7arenMarshallGs



s*ream that room had been <illed ?ith e*ited people, ?ho hadrushedabout, looing out o< the ?indo? <or the murderer and doing allthe

other things ?hi*h terror-stri*en people do in su*h a *risis o,themurderer--or murderess--had <ound no di<<i*ult9 in shi<ting thebig lampone <oot nearer the *haise longue, to the pla*e it had al?a9so**upiedbe<ore

But--Hho?H had the gun been <ired <rom the lampK (le*tri*all9K

Anotherpi*ture <lashed into DundeeGs mind 1e sa? himsel< stooping, onMonda9a<ternoon, to see i< the plug o< the lampGs *ord had been pulled<romthe so*et, sa? it again as it ?as then--nearl9 out, so that no*urrent*ould pass <rom the baseboard outlet under the boo*ase into thebrone

lamp 1o? <ar <rom the truth his *on*lusion that Monda9 hadbeenI

But ?hat ?as the HrealH truthK

Suddenl9 Dundee <lung ba* the moss-green Jilton rug ?hi*halmostentirel9 *oered the bedroom <loor and reealed the bell ?hi*hDeter

Sprague had rigged up so that ita might summon '9dia <rom herbasementroom, in *ase o< dire need--a pre*aution ?ith ?hi*h the murderer?asprobabl9 <amiliar, sin*e 'ois Dunlap might inno*entl9 hae spreadthe



ne?s o< its eisten*e

There ?as a hal<-in*h hole in the hard?ood <loor, and out o< itissued a

length o< green ele*tri* *ord, *onne*ted ?ith t?o small, <lat metalplates, one upon the other, so that ?hen stepped upon a bell?ould ringin '9diaGs basement room

But there ?as something odd about the ?ire Although it ?asobiousl9ne?, a se*tion o< it near the t?o metal plates ?as ?rapped ?ithbla*

adhesie tape Another memor9 no*ed <or attention uponDundeeGs mind HThe long *ord o< the brone lamp had been mended ?ith ea*tl9the samesort o< tape--about a <oot <rom ?here it ended in the *onta*tplugH

Jithin another t?o minutes, Dundee, ?ith a <lashlight he had<ound in

the it*hen, ?as eploring the dar, earth9 portion o< thebasement?hi*h la9 dire*tl9 to the east o< '9dia )arrGs basement room Andhe<ound ?hat he ?as looing <or--adhesie tape ?rapped about the?ire?hi*h had been dropped through the <loor o< itaGs room be<ore ithadbeen *arried, b9 means o< another hole, into '9diaGs room

1e ?as too late--thans to )aptain Stra?n The bell ?hi*hSprague hadrigged up ?as in ?oring order again But as he ?as passing outo< the



basement he glan*ed at the *eiling o< the large room deoted to<urna*e,hot-?ater heater and laundr9 tubs And in the *eiling he sa? ahole

The murderer had le<t a tra*e he *ould not obliterateI

/ / / / /

At three oG*lo* that Sunda9 a<ternoon Bonnie Dundee, <atigueda<ter astrenuous da9, and su<<ering, to his o?n some?hat disgustedamusement,

<rom rea*tion--een a dete*tie <eels some sho* at haingnarro?l9es*aped death--permitted himsel< the luur9 o< a *all upon enn9)rain

1e <ound the girl and her mother pla9ing anagrams A<tergreeting him,Mrs )rain rose, to surrender her pla*e to the isitor

CHEouH pla9 ?ith this girl o< mine, Mr Dundee SheGs too *leer<or meISheGs beaten me eer9 game so <ar, and ?hen + plead <or t?o-handedbridge as a *han*e to get een, she shudders at the er9 ?ordC

CJh9 did 9ou drag poor Ralph a?a9 <rom his dinner here toda9KCenn9demanded, s*rambling the little ?ooden blo*s until the9 made a

?eirdpattern o< letters

CBe*ause + ?anted to <ind out ea*tl9 Hho?H ita Selim ?asilled--and +



did,C Dundee ans?ered C+ ?ish + ne? as ?ell H?hoH murderedherIC

Mute be<ore enn9Gs e*ited Luestions, the dete*tie idl9 sele*ted

letters <rom the mass o< <a*e-up blo*s on the table, and spelledout,in a long ro?, the names o< all the guests at itaGs <atal bridgepart9Suddenl9, and ?ith a *r9 that startled enn9, Dundee made a ne?name?ith the little ?ooden letters

o? he ne? the ans?ers to both CH1o?KHC and CHJhoKHC

)1AT(R TJ(TE-(+41T

C+ <ail to see an9 ne*essit9 <or all this se*re*9 and ho*us-po*us,CDistri*t Attorne9 Sanderson protested irritabl9 CJh9 the deil

donGt9ou *ome *lean and gie us the lo?-do?n--i< 9ou hae itI--on thismiserable business, instead, o< high-handedl9 summoning)aptain Stra?nto m9 o<<i*e, so that 9ou *an gie orders to us bothKC

Be<ore Dundee *ould ans?er, )aptain Stra?n *ame to hisassistan*e

C+ ?ored ?ith this bo9 <or prett9 near a 9ear, Bill, and neer 9etdidhe <ail to mae good ?hen he said he had a pot on to boil +< hesa9s it?ill boil oer this eening, proided ?e help him, boil oer it ?ill,or



+ donGt no? Bonnie DundeeIC

Sanderson s*o?led but *apitulated CAll rightI Jhat do 9ou?antKC

CThans, *hie<I And thans, )aptainIC Dundee *ried, ?ith heart<eltgratitude Cirst, + ?ant to be e*used <rom attending thead;ournedinLuests into the t?o murders, s*heduled <or three oG*lo* toda9C

C7C Sanderson agreed shortl9

CSe*ond, a<ter about an hour o< routine stu<<, + ?ish 9ouGd as <or

another ad;ournment until tomorro?, on the plea that importantdeelopments are epe*ted toda9C

C7 againIC

CThird, +Gd lie 9ou personall9 to reLuest the appearan*e o< eer9person *onne*ted in an9 ?a9 ?ith ea*h o< the murders, in 9ouro<<i*ethis a<ternoon at <our oG*lo*--so the ?hole bun*h ?ill be ept

togetherand hae no *han*e to go to their homes or an9?here else until +amread9 <or them Eou *an sa9 that, o?ing to the illness o< 9ourmotherduring the inestigations, 9ou ?ant to Luestion eer9onepersonall9C

CDo 9ou ?ant all the serants brought here, tooKC Sanderson

ased

Cone but '9dia )arr,C Dundee ans?ered CA<ter about an hourGsinno*uousLuestioning, please inite them to a**ompan9 9ou to the Selimhouse or



that--C and he grinned, C--is ?here the pot is s*heduled to boiloer+Gd lie eer9bod9 to be there b9 .:".C

CJhere do + *ome inKC )aptain Stra?n demanded, almost ;ealousl9

Co? that 9ou are no longer looing <or a e? Eor gunman, +suppose 9ouhae plent9 o< plain*lothesmen at 9our disposalKC Dundee ased,and ?asinstantl9 sorr9 he had reminded his <ormer *hie< o< the *ollapse o<his

*herished and satis<9ing theor9

Clent9,C Stra?n ans?ered gru<<l9 C1o? man9 ?ill 9ou needKC

C(nough to eep eer9 person on Mr SandersonGs initation listunderstri*test obseration until--the pot boils oer,C Dundee replied

CJhen do 9ou ?ant them to get on the ;obKC

CAs soon as the9 *an do so, a<ter 9ou get ba* to 9our o<<i*eC

CAre the9 to <ollo? the ?hole gang *lear out to the Selim houseKC

CMost de*idedl9I A<ter the un?illing guests are sa<el9 ?ithin thehouse,9our bo9s must guard the premises so that Hno oneH leaes?ithout

permissionC

CThatGs all as good as done,C Stra?n assured him Co?--abouttheminLuiries 9ou ased me to mae 9esterda9 o< the se*retar9 o< the



Ameri*an 'egionC 1e dre? a s*rap o< paper <rom his breastpo*et C+<ind that 3ohn Drae, eter Dunlap and )lie 1ammond ?ere allin

seri*e, in the ----th Diision, ?hi*h ?as held up late in 3anuar9,"#"8, <or nearl9 t?o ?ees, in 1oboen, be<ore the JarDepartment *ouldget transports to send Gem to ran*e Miles, ?ho enlisted the da9?ar?as de*lared, ?as ?ounded and shipped home late in "#"O 1e?asdis*harged as un<it <or <urther seri*e--spinal operation--<rom ae?

3erse9 base hospital on 3anuar9 "2, "#"8 urthermore, 3udgeMarshall?as in e? Eor the ?hole ?inter o< "#"O-G"8, atta*hed to theRed )rossin some legal *apa*it9 1e donated his seri*es and--C

CAll that doesnGt matter no?, )aptain, but thans ;ust the same,CDundeeinterrupted Co? i< 9ou ?ill both e*use me, +Ge got a lot o<

?or todo be<ore <ie oG*lo* toda9IC

Dundee had not eaggerated That Monda9 ?as one o< thebusiest da9s hehad eer spent in all the t?ent9-seen 9ears o< his li<e 1e began,rather strangel9, b9 isiting hal< a doen o< 1amiltonGs hard?arestores, ehibiting a pe*uliar instrument and maing anno9inginLuiries

as to ?hen and to ?hom it had been sold But at his sith port o<*allsu**ess so *ompletel9 re?arded his e<<orts that he ?as ;ubilant?hen hebade the m9sti<ied proprietor good da9, a signed statementreposing in



his ?allet

T?o other *alls--both in o<<i*e buildings--too up onl9 an hour o<his

time, and a tai*ab deliered him at oli*e 1eadLuarters ;ust asthe<a*tor9 ?histles ?ere sirening the ne?s that it ?as t?ele oG*lo*

1e ?as lu*9 enough to <ind the <ingerprint epert, )arra?a9, inhis*ubb9hole o< an o<<i*e, his des almost *ro?ded out b9 immense<iling*abinets

ie minutes later Dundee sat at that des, photographs o<DeterSpragueGs dead bod9, ;ust as it had been dis*oered on the <looro< thetroph9 room in the Miles home, and a labelled set o< <ingerprintsspreadout be<ore him

CEouGre sure there *an hae been no mistaeKC he ased Co*han*e thatthese <ingerprint photographs ?ere HreersedH ?hen the prints?eremadeKC

Cot a *han*e--?ith m9 s9stemIC )arra?a9 retorted positiel9

CineIC Dundee *ried CMa9 + tae these photographsK Eou hae

*opies,+ presumeKC

+t ?as hal< past t?o oG*lo* ?hen Dundee, a<ter a mu*h neededlun*h,pared his *ar in the drie?a9 o< one o< the most splendid houses



oerlooing Mirror 'ae--a home ?hose master and mistress?ere no?attending an inLuest into t?o murders

1al< an hour later he *limbed into his roadster again, his headspinning CDid + sa9 HingeniousHKC he marelled

1e droe dire*tl9 to the Selim house, <or he had mu*h to dobe<ore thearrial o< SandersonGs *ompulsor9 guests at .:".

1is <irst isit there ?as to a small room in the basement--a dar*ubb9hole net to the *oal room 1e had lo*ed it *are<ull9 a<ter

eploring it the da9 be<ore, <or he had taen no *han*e on leaingunguarded--as he had <ound it--treasure ?orth more to him thanits?eight in gold

And Lueer treasure it ?as that he etra*ted no?--a *oiled lengtho< ele*tri* ?ire, ?hi*h he and Ralph 1ammond had measured theda9 be<ore,

?ith triumphant e*itementF a bo o< thumb ta*s, man9 o< themsurprisingl9 bent at the pointF an augur ?ith a set o< bits o<ar9ingsies, a step-ladder, and a hammer +< Deter Sprague had notoerestimated the amount o< ele*tri* ?ire needed <or the ;ob o< installing an alarm bell bet?een itaGs bedroom and '9diaGsDundee?as about to *lose the tool *hest ?hen his e9es <ell upon a pie*eo<

hard?are he had not epe*ted eer to <ind, although he hadno?n o< itseisten*e <or more than an hour

At .:". he ?as entirel9 read9 <or D A Sanderson, )aptainStra?n and



their part9 o< indignant and un?illing guests

Ch, Mr DundeeIC )arol9n Drae sLuealed CEouGre not going tomae us

pla9 that a?<ul Gdeath handG again, are 9ouKC

The9 ?ere all *ro?ding about him--the men and ?omen ?ho hadbeen itaSelimGs guests at her last bridge and *o*tail part9

Cot onl9 are the bridge tables ea*tl9 ?here the9 ?ere at thistime onthe eening o< Ma9 2$,C Dundee ans?ered HsoH signi<i*antl9 that

allstopped *hattering to listen, CHbut eer9thing else in the house ispre*isel9 as it ?as thenH ortunatel9, not een the Hele*tri*it9Hhasbeen *ut o<<I But to mae sure + hae <orgotten nothing, + ?ish9ou?ould all <ollo? me into Mrs SelimGs bedroom and loo <or9ourselesC

'ie sheep, the9 *ro?ded into the little <o9er and on into thebedroomThere stood the big brone lamp, set sLuarel9 in <ront o< the?indo?<rame and in a dire*t line ?ith the musi*al po?der bo on deaditaGsdressing table

At .:2., enn9 )rain, 7aren Marshall, )arol9n Drae, and lora

Miles,?ho had been reLuisitioned b9 Dundee to pla9 the part o< themurdered?oman, ?ere seated at table o 2, and behind 7arenGs *hairstood 'ois



Dunlap )lie 1ammond and his ne? ?i<e ?ere again together inthesolarium But there DundeeGs restaging o< the original s*ene inthe

tragi* drama ended (er9one else, in*luding '9dia )arr and eterDunlap, ?ere huddled together in a <ar *orner o< the liing room

Co?, Mr MilesIC Dundee *alled CEour *ueI eer mind the*omed9 aboutG1o?Gs tri*sKG Simpl9 go into the dining room, ?ith Mrs Dunlap,to mi*o*tails EouGll <ind all the ingredients still on the sideboard,ea*tl9 as there ?ere ?hen Mrs Selim sent 9ou to mi drins on

Ma92$ And Mrs Miles, ?ill 9ou, pretending that 9ou are itaSelim, goto po?der 9our <a*e at Mrs SelimGs dressing-tableKC

1er <a*e ?hite and dra?n, lora Miles stumbled <rom the room, ;ust asher husband, dumb <or on*e ?ith rage, entered the dining room?ith 'ois

Dunlap

Dundee ?as about to <ollo? the latter t?o ?hen an interruptiono**urredollo?ed b9 a plain*lothesman, a middle-aged man entered theliingroom Tall, broad-shouldered, determined, he strode to the bridgetable,his handsome head up<lung, his bro?n e9es <ied upon the

?idened bro?ne9es o< enn9 )rain

/ / / / /



CDadIC the girl breathedF then, ;o9ousl9: Ch, DadI EouGe *omehomeIC

But Dundee halted the re*on*iliation ?ith a stern ?ord o<

*ommandClease ;oin the group in the *orner, Mr )rainIC

Regardless o< the ensuing hubbub Dundee strode into the diningroom,?here Tra*e9 Miles stood at the sideboard, pouring ?hise9 <romanalmost empt9 de*anter into a small glass

CMa9 + drin the S*ot*h Tra*e9 has poured <or me, Mr DundeeKCMrsDunlap ased shail9, leaning against the big round table

CEes, but--Silen*e, pleaseIC he *ried, as there *ame the <irst <aint,tinling notes o< H3uanitaH, <rom itaGs musi*al po?der bo,penetratingthe thin ?all bet?een the bedroom and dining room

CAs + hae said,C the dete*tie spoe loudl9 and *learl9 aboe thetinle o< musi*, CHeer9thing is no? ea*tl9 as it ?as ?hen itaSelim?as murderedHI ermit me to sho? 9ou all ho? that murder ?asa**omplishedIC

A *hair at the bridge table ?as oerturned 'ois Dunlap almost*hoed onher drin o< S*ot*h Jomen s*reamed +n a <e? se*onds eer9

person inthe liing room, in*luding the distri*t attorne9 and Stra?n, ?ashuddledin the ?ide opening into the dining room, their e9es <ied inhorrorupon Bonnie Dundee



1e spoe again, his oi*e er9 *lear, but slo? and ?eighted ?ithadread<ul signi<i*an*e:

HCMrs Dunlap, step on the bell beneath the dining tableICH

'ois Dunlap dropped the empt9 ?hise9 glass, her <a*e suddenl9?iped o< all epression

CStep on that bell, Mrs Dunlap--H;ust as 9ou did be<oreHIC

As i< h9pnotied, 'ois Dunlap began to grope ?ith the toe o< herrightpump <or the slight bulge under the rug ?hi*h indi*ated theposition o< the bell used <or summoning the maid <rom the it*hen

Jith a strangled *r9 Tra*e9 Miles lunged a*ross the <e? <eet?hi*hseparated the ?oman and himsel<, seied her arm and ?hirled

heriolentl9 a?a9 <rom the table

CHDo 9ou ?ant to ill m9 ?i<e, tooKHC he panted, his usuall9 <lorid<a*ethe *olor o< putt9 CEou--H9ouH--IC

)1AT(R TJ(TE-+(

CThat ?ould be impossible, Miles,C Dundee said deliberatel9 CHor9our



?i<e is alread9 deadIHC Then his *lear ?ords rang out lie thenell o< doom:

CTra*e9 Arthur Miles, + arrest 9ou <or the murder o< 9our ?i<e,no?n as3uanita 'eigh Selim, and <or the murder o< Deter Sprague And itis m9dut9 to ?arn 9ou that an9thing 9ou sa9 ma9 be used against9ouC

Tra*e9 Miles li<ted his ashen <a*e and stared at the dete*tieblanl9,

as though he had gone dea< and blind CAll--oer--isnGt itK Ma9 +--haea--drinKC he managed to arti*ulate at last

Coor deilI 1e needs it,C the too-so<t-hearted 9oung dete*tietoldhimsel<, as Miles poured a drin <rom the almost empt9 ?hise9de*anterand raised the little glass to his lips

C+ hae--nothing--to sa9IC the murderer gasped thi*l9, then <ellheail9 to the <loor

/ / / / /

+t ?as three-Luarters o< an hour later Distri*t Attorne9Sanderson,)aptain Stra?n and Dundee ?ere alone in the house ?here ita

CSelimC hadbeen murdered and ?here her husband had *on<essed his *rimesb9*ommitting sui*ide The morgue ambulan*e had *ome andgone



C+ should hae no?n,C Dundee admitted rue<ull9, as the threemenentered itaGs bedroom, Cthat so ingenious a *riminal as Tra*e9Miles

?ould not hae <ailed to proide against the possibilit9 o<dis*oer91e must hae seied an opportunit9 to spill *9anide o< potassiumintothe de*anter ?hen m9 e9es ?ere o<< him <or a moment--andupon 'oisDunlapC

C+Gm glad he did,C Sanderson said *urtl9 CBut it ?as ghastl9 that

poor'ois had to no? that it ?as she, in all inno*en*e, ?ho <ired theshotthat illed her <riendC

C+t ?as,C Dundee sighed CBut + belieed that the onl9 ?a9 + *ouldmaeMiles *on<ess ?as to <righten him into thining lora ?ould beilled in

the same manner Jell, it ?oredIC

C)aptain Stra?n and + are still in the dar as to ea*tl9 ho? Milesmanaged his ?i<eGs murder,C Sanderson reminded him CThismorning 9ou*hose to tell us nothing more than that a 1amilton man hadmarried ita'eigh in e? Eor in 3anuar9, "#"8, and that eight 9ears ago,?hen he

sa? her pi*ture in HThe 1amilton (ening SunH, along ?ith thestor9 thatGAnita 'eeG had *ommitted sui*ide, he <elt <ree to marr9 againEousaid then 9ou ne? ?ho the man ?as but 9ou ?ould not een tellus ho?



9ou ne?--C

CBe*ause + had er9 little a*tual proo< then,C Dundee ans?eredCAs to

?ho he ?as, the salient *lue had been staring me in the <a*e the?holetime, but it ?as not until + ?as <ooling ?ith a set o< anagrams lastnight, idl9 spelling out the names o< all the men ?ho HmightHhaemarried her and then murdered her, that + sa? it--C

CSa? H?hatHKC Stra?n demanded irritabl9

CThat Selim is simpl9 Miles spelled ba*?ards,C DundeeeplainedCossibl9 be*ause he *onsidered it the sophisti*ated thing to do,Milesused an assumed name at the part9 at ?hi*h he met ita 'eigh--andmarried her under that name shortl9 a<ter?ard (en the <irstname,GMatG, b9 ?hi*h she ne? him, ?as onl9 his initials reersedC

CSimple--but *leer,C Sanderson *ommented

C3ust as ?ere all o< MilesG s*hemes a<ter ita, egged on b9Sprague,turned up in 1amilton to demand Gba* alimon9G as the pri*e o<hersilen*e But let me sho? 9ou ho? he illed his ?i<eC

1e strode to the big brone lamp C+t too me less than an hourtoda9 tore*onstru*t the death ma*hine so that it ?ould be almost ea*tl9as it?as ?hen Miles <inished his ?or ;ust be<ore 2:%0 on Saturda9,Ma9



2$--and as it remained until he had an opportunit9 to *ome ba*here anddismantle it Trust him to <ind out that the guard ?as remoed<rom the

house Thursda9IC

As he spoe, he ?as uns*re?ing the big, ;e?el-studded bo?l o<the bronelamp Jedged, at a do?n-slanting angle inside the bo?l, ?hi*h?as t?elein*hes in diameter, ?as 3udge MarshallGs snub-nosed automati*,theatta*hed Maim silen*er pro;e*ting slightl9 <rom the hole ?hose

;e?el?as missing

C'9dia told me last night oer the telephone--and er9 mu*hsurprisedshe ?as, too, ?hen + s?ore her to se*re*9--that the ;e?el hadbeen lost?hen the lamp ?as shipped <rom e? Eor,C Dundee eplainedCThereGs a

blan *artridge in the gun no?, o< *ourse, but Miles, in his pani*,toom9 ?ords literall9 See the ele*tro-magnet strapped to the gunbuttK1e got it <rom the bell Sprague had installed in '9diaGs bedroom,and hereturned it ?hen he ?as G*leaning upG, so that the bell ?ould ringagain The magnet he *onne*ted ?ith the ele*tri* ?ire in one o<the t?o

lamp so*ets, as 9ou see it no?, and the long *ord o< the lamp?as*onne*ted ?ith the ?ire o< the bell in the dining room--so*onne*tedthat ?hen an9one stepped on the t?o little metal plates underthe dining



room rug, the it*hen bell ?ould ring and the gun ?ould be <iredsimultaneousl9 But i< 9ou ?ill eamine the ;e?el hole,C hesuggested,C9ou ?ill see that Miles had to enlarge it *onsiderabl9, using a

reamer,?hi*h + <ound in the tool *hest in the basement, along ?ith all theapparatus Sprague had bought <or installing itaGs alarm bell +*ouldsee no reason <or SpragueGs haing needed a reamer <or his little ;ob,ho?eer, and this morning + ?as lu*9 enough to get proo< thatMileshimsel< had pur*hased it at a hard?are store on the Tuesda9

be<oreitaGs murderC

C1o? did he *onne*t the lamp *ord ?ith the dining room bellKCStra?npuled CThese modern houses donGt hae eposed ?iring--C

CEou <orget SpragueGs ?iring <or the alarm bell <rom here to'9diaGs

roomIC and Dundee thre? ba* the rug, sho?ing them the hole inthe<loor, out o< ?hi*h *ame a short length o< ele*tri* ?ire, ending int?osmall metal plates But atta*hed no? to the ?ire ?as the *ord<rom thebrone lamp

CThe plug o< the lamp *ord is nearl9 out o< the baseboard outlet

behindthe boo*ase, ;ust as Miles le<t it, so that there is no *onta*t ?ithele*tri*it9 there And the rug, ?hi*h almost entirel9 *oers the<loor,hides, as 9ou hae seen, the ;oining o< the t?o ?ires Aninepli*able



?rapping o< adhesie tape both on the lamp *ord and on the ?ireo< itaGs alarm bell here gae me the *lue +n installing the alarmbell, Sprague *opied the arrangement under the dining table, o<

*ourseAnd Miles simpl9 had to drop a bit, <astened to the augur Spraguehadbought and used <or his o?n ;ob, do?n the <our in*hes ?hi*hseparate thedining room <loor <rom the basement *eiling, boring a holethrough the*eiling +t ?as that <resh-bored hole in the *eiling that + *ould notunderstand, and ?hi*h Ralph 1ammond assured me ?as not

there Saturda9morning be<ore ita ?as illed Miles ;oined a pie*e o< ele*tri*?ireto the dining room bell ?ires, and pushed it do?n through thehole hehad bored into the basement *eiling o? i< 9ouGll *ome do?n?ith me--C

Jhen the three men stood staring up?ard at the basement

*eiling, Dundee*ontinued:

CSee this long ?ire running along the *eiling <rom the holebeneath thedining room bellK The ta*s Miles used to se*ure it ?ere alsoreturnedto the tool *hest, but he *ould not get rid o< either the augur holeor

the tin9 holes sho?ing the *ourse o< the ?ire 'etGs <ollo? itC

1e led them a*ross the basement to a door leading into a dan,un<inished portion o< the *ellar, dire*tl9 east o< '9diaGs bedroomand



beneath itaGs The ?ire ?hose *ourse the9 ?ere <ollo?ing ledunder thetop <rame o< the door, and, ?ith a <lashlight in his hand, Dundeesho?ed

ho? it *ontinued along a ra<ter until it rea*hed the pla*e ?here it?as ;oined, b9 adhesie tape, to the ?ire Sprague had dropped <romitaGsbedroom <loor aboe

CMiles simpl9 *ut the ?ire here ?here it enters another holethrough'9diaGs bedroom ?all, and atta*hed the ne? ?ire,C Dundee

eplained CThe*onne*tion bet?een the dining room bell and the ele*tro-magnetin thelamp upstairs ?as then *omplete Sprague had bought 9ardstoo mu*h o< the ?ire--<ortunatel9 <or MilesG s*hemeC

CBut ?hat a *han*e Miles too on the bulletGs not hitting her in a<atal

spotIC Sanderson *ommented in an a?ed oi*e

Cot mu*h o< a *han*eIC Dundee denied C1e ?ould <ire the gunonl9 ?henhe ne? ita ?as seated be<ore her dressing-table (perien*edmarsmanthat he ?as, he *ould *al*ulate the path o< the bullet to a ni*et9< *ourse the ma*hine had to be used that er9 da9 As 9ou no?

itahersel< gae him his *han*e Miles, standing at the sideboard,?hi*h ?asseparated <rom itaGs dressing table onl9 b9 a thin ?all, listeneduntil



the <irst <aint notes o< H3uanitaH told him that ita ?as po?deringher<a*e 1e *ould be almost positie that ita ?as sitting do?n toher

tas The poor girl sa? nothing to alarm her, but the gun i*ed?henthe shot ?as <ired b9 'oisG inno*ent stepping upon the diningroom bell,and the big lamp ?as ro*ed so that it banged against the?indo? <rame,shattering the one bulb Miles had le<t in it < *ourse he moedthelamp a <oot or so, in the resulting e*itement And i< ita had

been?ounded onl9, liing to tell ho? the shot ?as <ired, Miles ?ouldhae*ommitted sui*ide then and thereC

CJhat i< ita had not ased him to mi *o*tails or had not gonetopo?der her <a*eKC Stra?n ased

CThe ?hole part9 ?as going to dine and dan*e at the )ountr9)lubMiles ?ould hae es*orted her home, as he had done on Monda9night, ?henita had probabl9 made her last demand 1e *ould hae *ountedon itaGsgoing into her bedroom to po?der her <a*e, een i< he had had totellher that her nose ?as shin9, and ?ould himsel< then hae gone to

thedining room, on the e*use that he needed a drin be<oredis*ussingGbusinessG But + must tell 9ou that on Saturda9 morning,a**ording



to the telephone operator in MilesG o<<i*e, into ?hom + put the <earo< the 'ord and the la? ?hen + interie?ed her this morning, itarang Miles

to sa9 she must see him as soon as possible, her unepressedintentionbeing to tell him that she ?as not going to mae him *ome a*rossagainMiles--the telephone operator *on<essed to haing listened-in ontheJhole *onersation--told her he ?ould be right out, but ita saidshe and'9dia ?ere going into 1amilton and ?ould not be ba* until

2:%0--thetime the bridge game ?as s*heduled to begin That ?as theopportunit9Miles had been pra9ing <or, and he *ame on out, haingpreiousl9 stolenthe gun and silen*er and haing studied this house--C

C1o? had he got inKC Sanderson ?anted to no?

C3udge Marshall had lent him a e9 in ebruar9, ?hen Miles?anted tosho? the house to an engaged 9oung man in his o<<i*es, andMiles hadnegle*ted to return it Jell, ?hen he arried, he <ound Ralph1ammondhere, and had to leae, ?aiting at a sa<e distan*e, probabl9, untilthe*oast ?as *lear about one oG*lo* (en so, he had more than an

hour todo his *are<ull9 planned ;ob Hita had to dieIH Miles *ould not*ontinue to pa9 her large sums o< mone9, sin*e he ?as reall9 onl9anemplo9e o< loraGs (er9thing he held dear in the ?orld ?asthreatened



1e loed lora, he adored his *hildren, and he *ould not gie uptheluur9 and so*ial position ?hi*h his bigamous marriage ?ithlora----C

CJh9 didnGt he mae a *lean breast o< the ?hole mess to lora,sin*e hehad not married her until he belieed ita 'eigh ?as deadKCSandersoninterrupted

CEou must remember that lora ?as *arr9ing on a iolent<lirtation ?ith

Sprague--GampingG him to get the lead in the 1amilton moie, i<Spraguegot the ;ob o< dire*ting it,C Dundee reminded him CMiles, i*timo< adeep-rooted seual in<eriorit9 *omple, must hae <elt sure thatlora,on dis*oering she ?as not legall9 married, ?ould snat*h at the*han*eto marr9 Sprague--?hi*h ?as o< *ourse ?hat Sprague had

planned in *aseita published the truthC

CBut 9ou ?ere ?rong about the se*ret shel<I The gun ?as neerthereICStra?n gloated

Co But it ?as the absen*e o< <ingerprints on the pioting paneland

shel< ?hi*h ept me on the right tra* Miles had sear*hed theshel< <orthe marriage *erti<i*ate ?hi*h he *ould not no? ita had alread9burned robabl9, too, he had ?ritten her a <e? letters duringtheirshort *ourtship----C



C1o? ?as Sprague illedKC Sanderson interrupted impatientl9

Dundee led the ?a9 a*ross the basement to a *ubb9hole net to

the *oalroom, entered and *ame out ?ith a narro?, deep dra?er o< ebon9inlaid?ith mother-o<-pearl

Cirst + must tell 9ou that Miles got the gun out o< the lamp thatSaturda9 night, paring his *ar at a distan*e and sneaing intothehouse ?hile + ?as taling ?ith '9dia in the basement Je *an

guess thathe sto?ed gun, silen*er and ele*tro-magnet in a po*et o< his *arAtan9 rate, he *ame ba* noisil9 enough a little later, to o<<er '9diaa ;ob as nurse in his home Doubtless he assured himsel< that shene?nothing, or poor '9dia ?ould hae gone the ?a9 o< her mistressand

SpragueC

CJas Sprague----KC Stra?n began

CDespite m9 ?arning,C Dundee ?ent on, re<using to be hurried,CSpraguemade a demand <or bla*mail mone9 upon Miles +t is possiblethatSprague, also sneaing into the house that Saturda9 night to get

hisbag, sa? Miles retriee the gun At an9 rate, Sprague ne? thatMiles?as the onl9 person among all the *ompan9 ?ho had a realmotie <or



illing ita Selim, and he undoubtedl9 bla*mailed Miles as amurdereras ?ell as a bigamist erhaps Miles put him o<< <or a da9 or t?o,but

on Jednesda9 3udge Marshall begged <or a bridge game, andMiles seiedthe opportunit9 o< again haing the original *ro?d present--a sorto< ?all o< integrit9 surrounding and in*luding him or + donGt thinhereall9 ?anted to inole his best <riends as suspe*ts + beliee hemerel9 ?anted to hide among them--apparentl9 as aboesuspi*ion as the9

?ere And there is sa<et9 in numbers, 9ou no? At an9 rate,Milesmade an appointment Jednesda9 a<ternoon ?ith Sprague, tellinghim that,i< he ?ould *ome to his home that eening, and manage to leaethebridge game ?hile he ?as dumm9, he ?ould <ind the mone9 he?asdemanding--Hin a dra?er o< the *abinet that stood bet?een the

t?o?indo?s in the troph9 roomHIC

Dundee ehibited the dra?er he had taen <rom the basementtool roomCThis dra?erI + too it a?a9 <rom the Miles home this a<ternoon?hileeer9one but a *hambermaid ?as at the inLuest Miles did nothae time

to go home be<ore going to 9our o<<i*e, Mr Sanderson, ?ith therest o< the *ro?d 9ou had summoned <or Luestioning +< he had, he?ould haeilled himsel< as soon as he <ound the in*riminating dra?er ?asmissing



<rom the *abinetC

CBut--Hho?H----KC Sanderson began, <ro?ning ?ith be?ilderment

CNer9 simpleIC Dundee ans?ered CJhen Sprague pulled openthis dra?er,?hi*h ?as set in the *abinet at ;ust the height o< his stoma*h, here*eied a bullet in his heart See these <our little holesK Aise ?as s*re?ed into the bottom o< the dra?er so that it grippedthegun ?ith its silen*er, at an up?ard angle A pie*e o< string ?astied tothe trigger and <astened someho? to the underside o< the dra?er,

so that?hen Sprague pulled the dra?er open the string ?as dra?n tautand thetrigger pulled ra*ti*all9 the same me*hanism b9 ?hi*h he triedtomurder me The i* o< the gun ;ered the dra?er shut AllMiles hadto do ?hen he ?as pretending to loo <or Sprague ?as to turn o<<the

troph9 room light b9 a button--one o< a series on the outside ?allo< the hall *loset robabl9 it had been agreed bet?een them thatSprague?ould not return to the bridge game, hen*e SpragueGstelephoning <or atai to ?ait <or him at the <oot o< the hill, and his taing his hatandsti* into the troph9 room ?ith himC

CThen Miles had <rom midnight till da?n to remoe the gunIC

CEes Some time during the night, a<ter lora ?as asleep ?ith asedatie, ?hi*h she badl9 needed be*ause o< the Luarrel--agenuine



one--?hi*h she and Tra*e9 had had oer Sprague--Miles slippeddo?n tothe troph9 room and remoed the gun and ise But he *ould notremoe

the holes the s*re?s had made, although he did *oer the bottomo< theusuall9 empt9 dra?er ?ith old pamphlets on the *are and <eedingo< dogs B9 the ?a9, the *hambermaid told me that her masterspent abouthal< an hour be<ore dinner that Thursda9 night in the troph9room,Ggoing oer his <ishing ta*leG 1is net *on*ern ?as to mae

themurder ;ibe *ompletel9 ?ith )aptain Stra?nGs theor9 o< a gunman?ho hadtrailed his Luarr9 to the Miles home and shot him through the?indo?The ?indo? ?as alread9 open, but the s*reen had to be raised,too, andSpragueGs <ingerprints had to be on the ni*el *at*hes b9 ?hi*hthe

s*reen *urtain is raised or lo?ered < *ourse Sprague had nottou*hedthe s*reen----C

CDo 9ou mean to sa9 he lugged the *orpse to the ?indo? andli<ted it upso that he *ould press the sti<< <ingers upon the ni*el *at*hesKCSanderson ased ?ith a shudder CJhat a <iend----C

Co,C Dundee assured him CThat ?as unne*essar9 1e simpl9remoed the*urtain s*reen, ?hi*h is so designed that it *an be taen do?nand putup as easil9 as a ?indo? shade 1e *arried the s*reen--his o?nhands



prote*ted b9 gloes, + suppose--to ?here SpragueGs right handla9 Hpalmup?ardH, on the <loor, and pressed the thumb and <ore<ingeragainst the

*at*hes, maing <ingerprints all right, but the9 ?ere reersed--as+dis*oered ?hen it o**urred to me to eamine the photographs o< SpragueGs <ingerprints in )arra?a9Gs o<<i*e toda9 Miles *ould notturnthe sti<< hand oer ?ithout bruising the dead <leshF *onseLuentl9theprint o< the <ore<inger ?as on the *at*h ?here the thumb ?ouldnormall9

hae le<t its mar--and i*e ersa Be<ore + <orget it, + shouldalsotell 9ou that + <ound a master e9 hanging on the e9board in thebutlerGs pantr9 Big houses, ?ith their man9 lo*s, are usuall9proided?ith a master e9, and Miles undoubtedl9 used that one to gainentran*einto m9 room a<ter midnight Saturda9 morningC

CJhere did 9ou <ind the iseKC Stra?n ased

C+n the tool *hest right here, ?here he had also pla*ed thereamer hehad bought The ise probabl9 belonged to Miles originall9, but he?astaing no *han*es on an9thingGs being <ound in his possession,proided?e tumbled to Hho?H the t?o *rimes ?ere *ommitted The

reamer he musthae brought out here a<ter he used it to enlarge the hole in m9hot-airregister a<ter midnight Sunda9 morning +t is possible he did his*leaning up ;ob here at the same time +t ?as sa<e enough tohae lights



on, sin*e the house is so isolated and there had been no guardheresin*e Thursda9C

CJell--C Sanderson dre? a deep breath C1e ?as a <ar *leererman thanan9 o< us suspe*ted The me*hani*al arrangements ?ere absurdl9eas9 torig up, in all three *ases, but the HthiningH o< them---- +t is apit9ita did not <ear him as she <eared SpragueGs engean*e----C

CEouGre right,C Dundee ans?ered Cita did not <ear Miles, not

een ?henshe ?as maing him pa9 and pa9 o ?oman *ould loo atMiles andbeliee him *apable o< murder But a *oni*tion o< seualin<eriorit9leads to strange things, as ps9*hologists *an tell 9ou + belieeMiles married the onl9 t?o ?omen ?ho eer <ell in loe ?ith him,andthere *an be no doubt that ita reall9 loed him, <or she ept her

?edding dress <or more than t?ele 9ears and *hose it to be hershroud+t is possible she ?as still <ond o< him, although she ?asin<atuated?ith Sprague ?hen she *ame do?n here and ?as later sin*erel9in loe?ith Ralph 1ammond Another reason she did not <ear Miles ?henshe madeher ?ill ?as that she *ounted on being able to tell him Saturda9

nightat the latest that she ?ould neer as him <or mone9 again, i< he?ouldtrade silen*e <or silen*e 1o? she hoped to se*ure SpragueGssilen*e ?e



*an onl9 guess at robabl9 she meant to bu9 it ?ith theremainder o< the "0,000 she had alread9 got <rom Miles--proided Spraguedid not

ill her <or dit*hing him as a loer Je no? she <oresa? thatpossibilit9, sin*e she ?illed the mone9 to '9dia < *ourse i<Spraguehad proed tra*table, ita as RalphGs ?i<e ?ould hae been ableto*ompensate '9dia handsomel9 <or the in;ur9 she had done herC

Coor ita--and poor loraIC Sanderson sighed, as he led the ?a9up the

basement stairs C1elloI SomeoneGs *alling 9ou, Bonnie----C

Dundee ran through the it*hen and dining room and into theliing room,<or he had re*ognied enn9 )rainGs s?eet, hus9 *ontralto

CJhat are H9ouH doing ba* here, 9oung ?omanKC he demandedCEou ?eretold to go home and <orget all this ugl9 business----C

CDad ?ants a priate ?ord ?ith 9ou,C enn9 eplained, her bro?ne9esluminous ?ith happiness C1eGs on the <ront por*h And 9ouought tosee MotherI She loos lie a t?ent9-9ear-old brideIC

Jhen Dundee ;oined him on the por*h, Roger )rain <lushedpain<ull9 but

there ?as happiness in his e9es, too

CSerena ased me to than 9ou <or giing her enn9Gs message topasson to me,C )rain began in a lo? oi*e C+Gm sure 9ouGe guessed alot,



but ?hat 9ou probabl9 donGt no? is that Serena used these*urities+ had sent her <or sa<e eeping, to pla9 the maret ?ith Jhenshe

ne? ?hat + had done here, she ?ouldnGt let me tou*h a penn9 o<themone9 until she had turned it into enough to *lear up all m9debts in1amilton Then,C and he sighed slightl9, Cshe sent me homeotthat +Gm sorr9 +Gm going to tr9 to mae Margaret and enn9happ9, maethem and the to?n <orget that + disgra*ed them----C

CThroughKC enn9 *alled <rom the door?a9, and Bonnie Dundee<orgotTra*e9 Miles and all his ingenious s*hemes

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