The Deep Lake Mystery

porch of the Moore bungalow, we saw a ma

ach, and Lora cried out, "O

claimed Moore, with a loo

and sevens over there. Nobody authorized to take the helm, though plenty of them want to do so. In a way, Everett, the secretary, is head of the heap, but a gues

e?" asked Keeley

es, I think he's the man who killed Tracy. But here's my er

sent to his in

Moore's detective ability, and he wan

a case, or even thought about undertaking a case, he seemed to change his per

im at once, as he listened to

s took on a far-away look that was yet alert and receptive. His hands showed strained muscles as he grasped the back of a chair that stood in front of him. His lips lost thei

d hoped Kee was to have a rest from his work, an idle vacation. The two Moores and I knew that, and we all knew, too, that the va

ll most certainly look into the matter and if I can be of help we can make definite arrangements

o'clock. Well, this morning, the door was locked and nobody responded to knocks on it. So-you can get the con

mean by str

a long red scarf, and, if you please, a red

emanded Moore, his eyes g

orange in his hand and crackers on his p

excitement. "Let's get over there before they disturb all

get you; any detective would, you know, but when I came to think over all that hodge-podge of e

etective to start. "Will your car hold us all?" His glance included

the landing place under the porte-cochère, I was

aversed to reach the front door was brightened with a few railing fl

embered that Kubla Khan's Pleasure Dome was described as stately

ed everywhere by good taste, the app

e about. Servants were coming and goi

ectly to the library, where Ins

and a young man, who proved to be Charles Ever

o many of our efficient young American secretaries. He lo

up the mat

aking voice had an unpleasant twang, and I saw Kee stiffen up as

will soon learn, the conditions are startlingly unusual, even bizarre. But I have heard that the more bizarre the clu

I would take the case

son. I shall not trammel you with any restrictions or annoy you with any advice. I am told you are a famous detective. I know you

asked Moore. "You see, I know

do know are seemingly contradictory. I trust, Mr. Moore, that you will look into the matter, at

I want it told me here. Let me see the body, let me inquire for myself concerning the facts, and

"I want you to be my agent in this matter, and so I want yo

you here, Mr. Ames?" asked Moo

no friends of a confidential nature except myself. I am not referring to financial affairs, they are in the hands of his lawyer and his secretaries. But if he has been murdered, I propose to hound down the wretch who

ely and to the point. But after all, his manner was truculent, he didn't ask Moore's help so much a

am not willing to take a case until I look into it. Do not del

r word he led the way from the ro

n Tracy's rooms. They were in a wing that had been flung out at the back of the house, probably as a later addition to

ector, taking a key from his pocket

eak in," Moore said, loo

e, in the lock. But they got the garage mechanician up here, and he man

, the Inspector first, then Moore a

and it was then that I saw the strange, the gr

from which I found it well nigh impossible to

d feathers seemed to crow

d, and only the red plume showed, of such fine, light feathers that a

the rest of the

called pear-shaped. He had heavy jaws, pendulous jowls and a large mouth. Clean shaven as to face, his hai

. Across his chest, diagonally, was a garland of the same flowers. The blossoms were no

ast, held a crucifix, and in the left h

rs. And encircling the head and shoulders, framing all these strange details, a long and wide scarf, of soft and fi

forgetting to look at Moore

e, I saw he had evidently completed his scrut

cy was murdered?" Kee ask

t himself. A natural death wouldn't have such decorations, either. So, he was killed, either by some

he die of,

e doctor will be here any m

the family physician, and as Farrell opened th

ish?" he exclaimed, r

elp it, Doctor," March implor

nce of

-or is it a n

ation with as little disturbance as

its place and flung across the room. T

u know where they were found, and I won't have my frien

gard for possible finger prints, and stor

aightened up from his exam

ly held, the fingers were bent round them after death. It must have been the deed of some child or of some servant who is mentally lacking. Is there a girl of twelve or fourteen on the place? But I've no time to tarry now. I'm on my way to the train. I'm going for my vacation on a trip through Canada and down the Pacific coast. I'd throw it over, of course, if I could be of any use. But I can't, and my wife is waiting for me. I've given my statement as to Tracy's death, and I know I'm right. Here comes Coroner Hart now. I say, Hart,

is, and so logical his disinclination to linger when he could

owers, somewhat disarranged by Doctor Rogers

re Doctor Rogers removed the feather dust

et them alone!" Har

"I know exactly how they were lying, and

h all that gi

hievous child, for preference, a l

got that sort of thing on the bra

of the bed and made his exami

"and no symptom of anything else. Yet, I feel a little

have that?"

is important now to make inquiries as to co

, you know,-but last evening I was out to

e did you

about eleve

acy gone to

. We went into the smoking ro

e did you

say. I said good night to him on this floor

his usual heal

s I notic

thing unusual

ing a

ct of your conversa

y and I told him. He was lightly interested, but cared only to hea

racy was n

he had accepted it. I begged him to go in my place, I would have willingly stayed home, but he wouldn't hear of such a thing. Then I wanted to telephone Mrs. Moore,

lo

ghtened it out in his mind one way or another. I didn't refer to the matter at all, but he asked me many questions about Mrs. Dallas, such as how she

d. "But I want to get any side-lights I can while the matter

ly been in here once

tell me if anyth

No, I don't know anything about the appo

ame in here after the man was dead, and arranged all those weird

reiterated. "I know noth

ut now he was resuming his irritable manner,

he was losing no points of what was happening, an

housekeeper up here, and find out a little more about the appointments of this room. For instance,

re," the Coroner said, with such hast

n the wall, and we w

iose personage in the throes of excitement and

frown, "these gentlemen want to ask you some

bit of fruit or a cracker in his r

e seemed to steady him. "He always had an orange or a few

and these crackers are the one

, sir. I put th

plate? Surely you h

on a small gilt-edged pla

ither. Had Mr.

a footman helped me out now and then; and Mrs. Fenn, she's cook and hou

o think your master wo

, but he was very fond of life, was Mr.

exy. I begin to think, Inspector, we have

, shaking his head

hough he had not moved, but had stood for a long time, with his hands in his pockets, st

Inspector," he said, in hi

ry small circular object that shone like silver, though near

ail that had been driv