The Deep Lake Mystery

t who would do such a thing? Who would hide those ri

eming to choose her words carefully. "I left the waistcoats in th

home?" Hart spoke gra

gave the

m to you!

stcoats were worn and I could have them to cut up for patche

sed, even smiling a little, and she favoured Hart with

e Totem

sessed several, and he often gav

er eyelids were as steady as the

e Tuesday aft

een three

w your

of c

isconcerting. At least, it bothe

oner in wrong. There was no overt act or word, but her little glance of surprise or her gl

nothing could disparage her to me. It was not alone her beauty, though she looked f

ething to concea

denied it. Fatuously I told myself she had her own good reasons for telling a fa

as pro

u alone

contracted in her

uring an over-inquisitive child. "Mr. Everett was

e wer

sitting room in

ave you the si

es

e, you sa

as a slight hesi

ey were nearly new. Why sh

rose in disti

that, since I admired them, my uncle was willing to part with them, even if they were nearly new. The fact remains, he gave them to me, for the purpose I have told you, an

was the cleverest one I had ever seen, and

re, but nobody could re

attention

bt of their sympathy with the witness and

eir clothing before it was worn threadbare, especially if a pretty niece asked for it. And the Totem Pole, too. It was known that Sampson Tra

urse, I be

, that had nothing to do with the waistcoats, which, doubt

rl seemed

er with a perplexed stare,

nything more?" sh

glared

to attention. "I shall adjourn the inquest, as it was intended merely for identification purposes, and I must look

her gray hair, in wisps round her thin gaunt face, shook with the intensity of her anger. "I'll not have my lamb pestered by s

the irate woman, and

aid to Har

gs of the law, and is quick to resent what she thinks an intrusio

on her shoulder than by Alma's words, the woman subsi

re call on you to-day, as well as on several other of

ne Dallas's turn t

she volunteered. "I am

much more master of himself he was when talking to this woman than when he addressed Alma

rybody seeme

down, as if dismayed at the way things were going. Clearly, there was disappoint

ly he knew little about conducting an inquest, and though he made no bas

e traced, evidence to be sifted, and until these things are done the jury cannot come to a decision. As they have seen and identified the deceased man, and have heard the detail of th

uld take no part in the conversation, I c

difficult

ugh quite evidently trying to control herself. Merivale stood at her side; we ha

r her reason, whatever her mental attitude, she appea

sual aspect, which wa

n. He was not actively angry, not exactly morose, b

Dallas and at Alma. But none of them called f

isperse, and Ames came

se?" he asked, in a threatenin

well, and I realized that he was torn between his great desire to investig

Harper Ames and take

ickly, "yes, Mr. Ames, I am

first time, I saw Harper Ames look pleased. "Conduct

o have carte blanche in my manner of procedure, and I am to pursu

into Ames's eyes, but it vanishe

top at nothing to

everness, that he thinks he has left no clue and has completely cov

y's office, a pleasan

esks, Tracy's own, and

de no objection, I did so. The three of us, beh

of the absurd decorations on the bed

anxious to delegate the whole matter t

ose things will explain themselves," Keeley sai

t, and looked up as if

h to commit this crime as it was committed. But somebody did, and so, I

rather boastful on my part, but I confess that I am taking up the matter principally because of its unusual features and its bizarre elements. I mean to

other than himself. Was he shielding some one? I knew evidence was often misleading because of the desir

but omit no effort. By the terms of Mr. Tracy's will, I shall be in a position to c

to offer? No advice as

that the killing of Mr. Tracy and the strange business of th

"Now, I don't want to seem insistent, but

a faithful old soul, yet he does want his money. Little home on a farm and all that.

e with

d to do anything really wrong. She has no thought save for her kitchen and h

I expect you to hire a dog and then do y

casual air, I knew Moore was l

d that might inculpate an innocent man. Nor do I say that I think them other than in

his head, "that's wh

Any other place you wish to go, you must get permissi

t him. But as he rose, thus tacitly dismissing us, his grumpiness retu

laimed. "Just now, too, when the

of those crises, Mr. Ames

mself up. But I was sure that this time he was not strict

s,

ancial matters that are

that his little burst of anger had

bowed us out, that we would take a loo

aid. "They are about t

m," and grasping my arm, Moore fairly hust

containing the luxuriou

th its beautiful furnishings and appointments. We paused in t

ow the accepted detective demeanour of "a hound on the scent." But he went about the r

upancy he left apparently unnoticed, but he

on the lake, or rather, on that dark pool-l

said. "Can you imagine any one jumpin

he would have to be a master diver and a master s

those things. And he was about five feet eight inches tall, and not a heavy weight, an

I was nearly struck dumb at his speech. "Now, I won't be your Wat

your corroboration. First, you see the print on the white painted window sill of what can only be the rubber sol

hough faintly, a few of the imprints und

r of the shoe had his foot turned in

turned outward. It is hard to think of the murderer poising himself on the sill and divi

it crossly, for I di

sides of the window frame, we see two sets of fingerprints, faint again, but there, and they are at a heigh

ose prints," I told him. "They'

only proving the exit of our criminal by

I jeered. "A stra

e here's a shred of such caught in a spli

'shreds of cloth clenche

trong! And, note that he carried something painted red in his right hand. See the mark

his thing. At any rate, don't give it all to Hart or Marc

only show it to you, because I want you to witness it. This e

s," I complained. "They're too faint

o with the merest smudges. And, I say, Norry, what's the trouble? Don't you want me to

e, so headstrong. Now, that red streak, a mere

white paint? Enamel paint, of the finest sort. Every fingerprint is wiped of

now, so we stepped

een it. The flowers, now withered, still lay on the pillows, and the c

to interest Kee, but he scruti

the lady's scarf. Now learn, my boy, to distinguish between important and non-important clues. Without doubt, the sentimental Sampson kept that scarf by h

t be

uvenirs. So, I deduce the murderer had no hand in providing the scarf. But the flowers had to be brought from their vases, the crac

il?" I snap

said, "and