The spectator., 1918-09-13
CHAPTER xv-continued.

HI tue utAi duu uaNAAAA hthNtA the garment. which was cut on lines designed to cover any sort of figure which nature could turn out. The ef feet of the dress plus the whskers was startling, to say the least.
 "Beforu we go." the sheriff decided i've had best have a look at the re- mains" To me he said: Where is the deceased? Where Is Mrs. Green7" Mrs. Green hasn't been murdered" started to set him straight.
 "I didn't ask how she met her death" the sheriff thundered. "Of course | don't expect you to admit you killed her. All l asked was where she is, ard. by George, I'll have an answer Where is she?''
 I pointed silently at the locked door Boys" said the sheriff with emo ton, "a poor. defenseless woman Hes beyond that door foully done to death by these here ruffians. Smith. wads- worth, Clancy, Snider. you will act as ambulance department"
 Four of his comedians went toward the door.
 Wait" the leader commanded Be fore you enter that room take off them hats"
 The four nondescript hats came of silently. Then they discovered that the door was locked. However. that proved only a slight obstacle. for the lock was easily forced. It struck me as funny that Mrs. Green had not walked out on the scene before this. A premonition of coming disaster grip ped my heart.
 The four men re-entered, carrying reverently a limp figure. which was unmistakably Mrs. Green. Had she been struck by stray bullet from the attacking party? If she had, things certainly were looking black for Clair and myself. We had no way of prov 1 ing that we were innocent. and all circumstantial evidence would be against us. A murmur of anger ran around the room, and the man with the | rope fingered 1t nervously.
 Steady, boys" the sheriff ordered.
 "One moment" The young man with the camera held up his hand. Don't move"
 There was a binding flash. and my overwrought nerves jumped seven feet and rebounded before my brain as sured them 1t was only flashlight.
 The effect on the four members of the ambulance squad wns even more startling. Apparently not expecting the explosion, they dropped their bur den and stood with mouths open. Ac- o;d ta11 ha ty sitting posture.
 There was slight scream Mrs. Green opened her eyes and demanded. Where am IF"
 If the officers of the law had been startled before, their condition now was absolute consternation.
 Madame" the sheriff inquired "aren't you dead?"
 'I should say not"
 'Then you are not Mrs. Green"
 ''I certainly am"
 But Mrs. Green is dead. Her daugh. ter told us so."
 Dead! Fiddlesticksl It's wonder I'm not, though. after coming over here in an open boat and being at tackled by a half naked savage with whiskers, and, let's see-some one was shot That's when I tainted, l guess, because I don't remember any thing more until just now
 All l have to say" stated the man with the rope, tanning his hat on dis respectfully, Ifs that this is bum night to get a man to play a joke on him"
 Madame" the sheriff said. with gloomy politeness, you have spoiled the only murder case We ever had in Maskeloon county; that's what you have done. Come on, boys"
 In majestic silence the members of the sheriff's posse filed from the room. The young man with the camera was left behind. hastily picking up bis traps in order to join the others before their boat left the island.
 approached him.
 Now that there is no murder mys- tery," I began, Y presume that the picture you took will be useless"
 Not at an." he answered, too busy folding up his tripod to notice that I had opened the shutter of his car era. wen find use for it some way"
 lit a match and held it about an inch from the lens of the camera, pre- tending to examine the name of the maker on 1t.
 "What are you doing?" he demand ed sharply.
 Just looking at your lens," an swered. blowing out the match. Its . Dalmeyer. I see"
 "Yes. was afraid something might happen to that negative. l left the film in the camera"
 Did your I asked innocently and closed the shutter. once more unob- served. May we have one of the pictures If they turn out wellT