The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-05-24
CHAPTER XV-contlnued.

overcome by the idea OF the woman
in the next room and hastily donned
the garment, which was cut on lines
designed to cover any sort of figure
which nature could turn out. The eff
feet Of the dress plus the whiskers was
startling, to say the least.
Before we 60" the sheriff decided
eve had best have a look at the re.
MAINS" To me he said; where is
the deceased? Where is Mrs. Green?''
Mrs. Green hasn't been murdered"
l started to set him straight.
Il didn't ask how she met her death, -
the sheriff thundered. "Of course l
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?'
| pointed silently at the locked door.
Boys" said the sheriff with emo
ton, u poor, defenseless woman lies
beyond that door fOully done to death
by these here rufIians. 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 off
silently. Then they discovered that
the door was locked. However, that
proved only a slight obstacle, for the
lock was easily forced. 1t 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
Enthusiastically 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
ing rhat we were innocent, and all
circumStantiaI evidence would be
against us. A murmur of anger ran
around the room, and the man with the
rope fingered it nervously.
STEADY, boys" the sheriff ordered.
zone moment" The young man with
the camera held up his hand. Don't
move
There was a binding flash, and my
Oyerwrought nerves jumped seven feet
and rebounded before my brain as
sured them it was only flashlight.
The effect on the four members of
the ambulance squad was even more
startling. Apparently not expecting
the explosion. they dropped their bur-
den and stood with mouths open. Ac-
cidentally they dropped the body in a
sitting posture.
There was a slight scream. Mrs
Green opened her eyes and demanded,
Where am II"
If the officers of the law had been
startled before, their condition now
was absolute CONSERVATION.
Madame" the sheriff inquired,
"aren't you dead?"
II should say not"
Then you are not Mrs. Green"
81 certainly am"
But Mrs. Green is dead. Her daugh-
ter told us So"
Dead! Fiddlesticks! It's a wonder
I'm not, though, after coming over
here in an open boat and being at
tackled by half naked savage with
whiskers, and, let's see-some one
was shot. That's when l tainted,
guess, because l don't remember any
thing more until just now"
IAN have to say" stated the man
with the rope, jamming his hat on dis
respectfully, sis that this is a bum
night to get a man to play joke on
him"
Madame" the sheriff said, with
gloomy poltteness, 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 sheriffs posse fled from the room.
The young man with the camera was
left behind, hastily picking up his
traps in order to join the others before
their boat left the island.
approached him.
Now that there is no murder mys-
terry" 1 began, Il presume that the
picture you took will be useless"
Not at ALL" he answered, too busy
folding up his tripod to notice that l
had opened the shutter Of his caTera.
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 it.
what are you dolng?" he demand
ed sharply,
Just looking at your lens" an
swered, blowing out the match. ITS
a Dalmeyer, see."
Eyes. l was afraid something might
happen to that negative. 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 well?"
He smiled.
"If this picture turns out WELL" he
said. nearly everybody in the United
States will have a copy Of II. I'm
photographer for the Haniman Syndi-
cate Of Newspapers"
That's what thought" l answer
ed returning his smile.
After he was gone l added, "That's
why let that negative get light
struck"
My assorted companions were sit.
ting on opposite sides Of the table.
"Pardon me-" murmured II be-
lievc that you have not met, Mrs
Grcon this ID Upton s. Clair