The Deep Lake Mystery

monotonous in the long stretches between spots, I think the greatest t

olence or maltreatment. Eyes partly closed, as he might be peacefu

ged as a wreath. More flowers diagonally across his breast, like a garland. Clasped in

his head showed the plum

a filmy but voluminous affair, deftly tucked in here and there, an

ce, lay two small crackers an

e ancient Egyptians, who provided their dead with foo

this

ginning, go through with the tale, and leave off at the ending." So, as I most assuredly

about fishing tackle. Kee is a wonderful detective and all that

I'm glad to g

en Kee took it into his silly head to get marrie

you can see h

excited about his prospects of f

ss in his voice, "and, Gray, do you know, there are more than t

of 'em," I said, with my

Lora sends you, and I back it up, an invitation to come out

e on newlyweds like that. I'll go to the inn or lodge o

sized house for the season, and you must be our gues

felt convinced that his wife's invitation was in good

t them time enough to get settled

, glad enough to get away from t

ida County, which is designated among the Sceni

n me that, and when we were motoring from the railroad station to

and poplars fell across the road, as the last glow of the sunset was fading, and the

kes before we reache

ast, as we turned in at the gat

he front door and Lor

l. She was of a reserved type and while amiable and cordial, she

ly, and expressed real pl

e, bonny type, with an air of execut

ey call it a Dutch bob. Anyway, she had a trace of Dutch eff

p but told me I needn't change as

gh the Moores guyed the idea of having a name for such an un

group augmented by a few more people: on

e dispelled the darksome and gloomy effects

ow guest, a pleasant-faced

hsafed. "I'm staying here, s

told her, and honestly,

air and deep blue eyes. I judged her hair was prema

she disclosed further, "and I'm up here

eturned. "I'll stay a month, I

ke it here. There's no end of things to do. Fishing of course, and bathing and boating and

nuous. I had hoped

beautiful woman is Katherine Dallas. She's about to be married to our next-door neighbour. He i

a little about new acquaintances, and often prevents unfortunate speeches. Especially

t my hostess's right hand and the be

lly brilliant, was unforced and gayly bantering. Two youngsters were p

hough apparently about twenty they seemed to

on," Posy told the company w

on purpose,"

. I turned arou

en on the job you'd be t

. Deep Lake is one of the deepest and most treacherous lakes

how to man

Lora Moore, accusingly, and p

going to a dance, and Mrs. Dallas seemed to want to go home ea

rattle of the crowd. And it was not very long before Lora and M

said, by way of bei

and the limits are generous. Except muskellonge. You may bag only one per day of those. But

ppy to be here, old scout, and we'll fish and all

ns, won't you? I mean, seem pleased to attend he

lady's word is law. Sh

somewhat crude compliment. "She's ju

etectiv

r insight and intuition are marvellous, and she sees through a

rely got the

cases this summer. I want a real vacation, that's why

even in Wisconsin. And to me, this whole country round looks

ur suggestion of such a thing might

your heart you do. You can't fish all the time, and you

of something pleasanter. How

d serpentine," I summed

said. "You see, she agrees with you. Now, I think

w her better than I do, She i

n, concede? Are

actly. But I wouldn't trust her as far a

all," Moore said, slowly. "Now she gives

hint those t

, in a

of the siren, I may change my mind. I didn't talk with her alone at

on Tracy, and Tracy is not one to take kindly to any poaching on his domain. Besi

sant

mood. I don't know, but I imag

n love and it

red in love and i

ks cross. Do

old friends, and Samp can man

for Mr. Tracy

ually full of guests and if any want

sure

most irregular boundary line. It has all sorts of coves and inlets, and there's one that juts in behin

m Coleridge's 'K

ese are

du did K

Pleasure D

, the sacr

erns measur

a sunl

ut that will refresh your

he o

of him and all that. So he built his enormous and gorgeous house and called it Pleasure Dome. And the deep arm of the lake, which is right beneath his own wind

delightful sl

rooms are in a wing, a long L, and you bet they have sunligh

nds nice for

dly in love with her, that she will have everyt

e family? The Trac

ive with him. Then Mrs. Remsen died, about a year ago, or a little more, and then Mrs. Da

bru

ovely girl, but she's a high-handed sort-all the Tracys are-

and? A gir

and old nurse's husband is her gardener and houseman, and old nurse's d

n an i

he didn't want to stay with the new wife any more than the

ght," I soothed hi

iends, and all that, but of course, when the new mistress of Pleasure D

ff ent

her uncle will always take care of her, bu

es Miss Alm

d to wheedle her uncle, but he's a queer dick, is Samp Tracy, and he obstinately

s prese

But his marriage will automatically cancel that will, and hi

will dou

t that he does. But there's where Lora has her do

picacity," I said. "Wh

oth socially and in a business way. They're as different as day and night. Ames is

n's parents

ther lived, I suppose Tracy would have put them both out of the house, just the sa

n the world except for the suave

a small child. Her little grave is in a small God's Acre on the Pleasure Dome

teries in Wisconsin. I thought they we

stock, and, anyway, the graves are there. And beautifully

g. Shall I see the

But I did say high-handed, for she is a determined sort,

as adm

One of Tracy's secretaries is frightfully in

multiplicity of

, and I fancy he keeps the two busy. Billy Dean is the one in l

they tell me, crav

y doesn't know it. Everett

s her attitude toward th

ut she is too good a financier to throw

the local history I can stand for

and Mrs. Merrill were in

and served as both hall and living room. Off this were two smaller rooms: the card room and the music room

ttractive, with no "Mission" piec

avenport beside Lora,

agree in our estimate

e," exclaimed Lora, heartily.

ecause she's going to marry a rich man. Rich men want wives as well as poor men.

miled at th

except that I believe she had Alma

and though I don't know Miss Remsen well at all, I do know that she is a girl

ave my word, "but I think, with Lora, that the Dallas i

t!" cried Keel

everness, she deserves her reward. And she deserves a peaceful hom

in mock despair, "you're making up all this

rolonging this futile discussion. Time will show you h