The San Francisco call., 1913-07-20
"A minute in the study" / added.

"A minute in the study" I added.
Reluctantly, 1t seemed to me, h,
crossed to the study door, and, throw
ing IL open stood aside that | Nigh
precede him.
II see you are not disposed to re
sume our discussion of last night"
began when Cameron, having CLOSED
the door behind him. halted just in
side and with hands in pockets waited
my opening. But want to show yol
that we have been In very much the
same position as the wondering chill
dren who watch the prestidigitateur
We have imagined something amaz
ingly like miracle. which, in point o
fact. IL capable of very simple, com
monplace explanation"
"You mean the cutting out Of thu
head Of the portrait7'' he asked, witf
kindly interest.
II do
"You have discovered how II ma,
have been done?' | interrupted.
He moved his head just pereeptibl,
from side to side in sceptical gesture
"The door of this room is seldom
loeked?' / queried, ignoring the indi
Gated scepticism.
Never locked he answered.
1T would be quite possible for AM
one, knowing that you were absent, Il
spend an hour or SO here urihter
rupted?"
ANY one,
ANY one who had gained entrance
to the house." I amplified.
"oh, yes, / presume so.'
'They wouid have ample time Il
clear a space on the book shelves
climb Tip and carefully cut out tn,
head or the whole of portrait /
they we're so inclined?"
paused for his answer, but he onlJ
smiled with sort of incredulous tol
erance.
Would they not p I insisted Bu
Cameron was most pefverse thii
morning.
my dear, Clyde he scoffed, 20
what use is all this? The portrai
was cut, not while | WAS absent, bu
while I was present. saw 1t com
plets at 3 o'clock; at IL minutes pas
It was fnutilated."
MY contention is explained
quite patiently, that while you saw i
compiete at . o'clock, the cut had al
ready been made. but the cut portion
had not been removed. In othel
words, the cutting having been deftil
done with a thin, sharp knife, II wa
perfectly feasible to leave the portrai
apparently intact. though with th'
slightest effort the incised portion
could subsequently be released--with
say, a piece of cord glued to the baci
for that especial purpose
Now that I had made myself clear
Cameron was QUICK to acknowledge
the possibility of such method.
And the cord, you mean, let dowr
behind the bookshelves and perhaps
through G Window he suggested.
Precisely. And pulled by some one
ON the outside"
Yes he said, thoughtfuIiy. "suef
un explanation is not unreasonable
The thing. really, must have been done
In some such way"
UnauestionabIy my friend appeared
relieved. But | came to fancy latei
that the appearance was feigned fol
my benefit Certainly, he was not con.
vinced, and In that he proved himself
possessed of an intuition world more
accurate than my own.
The set at tennis having finished
with Victory pefching on my banners
| made excuse to put off the inspection
Of the collie puppies until another
time, resumed my walking boots ane
started on my homeward way.
had succeeded in putting aside
for the moment at least, all though,
Of Cameron, his anonymous letters ant
his mutilated portrait and was dwell
ing on my disappointfnen at not hav.
ing caught even a glimpse OF Evelyf
Grayson during my morning visit tt
CTazholt when she suddenly came
around a turn. At first she did no
see me and / had time to mark the
fascinating grace of her long, free
stride. She wore frock of white
serge, the skirts edge at her ankles
revealing dainty, snowy buckskin ties
and just peep of white silk hose
And her flower like face looked on
through frame of leghorn straw ant
pink roses, tied snugly beneath he,
softly rounded chin with the fiimsies
ct long, floating white wells.
You truant," | cried. Are Won al.
got