The Carlisle independent., 1918-04-04
CHAPTER xV-Continued.

ned to cover any sort of figure oh nature could turn out The ef- feet of the dress plus the whiskers was startling, to say the least.
 Before 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. Green?" Mrs. Green hasn't been murdered" I started to set him straight
 "I didn't ask how she met her death," the sheriff thundered "Of course I don't expect you to admit you killed her. All I asked was where she is and, 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 lies 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 nondeseript 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. 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 enthusiastically Mrs. Green Had she Heen 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 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 it 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 fash, and my overwrought nerves jumped seven feet and rebounded before my brain as sured them it was only a f1ashlight. 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 sitting posture.
 There was a 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?'
 T should say not"
 "Then you are not Mrs. Green"
 T 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 a half naked savage witfi whis and, let's see-some one " That's when I tainted, I
 auSe I don't remember any
 until just now"
 ave to say,' stated the man
 Frope, jamming his hat on dis
 hlly, lis that this is bum
 get man to play a joke on Madame" the sheriff said, with <v1n 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.
 I approached him.
 "NOw that there is no murder mys- tery," I began, T presume that the picture you took will be useless"
 Not at all," he answered, too busy folding up his tripod to notice that I had opened the shutter of his camera. Well 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 doing?" he demand ed sharply.
 Just looking at your lens," I an swered, blowing out the match. Its Dalmeyer, I see"
 "Yes. l was afraid something might happen to that negative. I left the film in the camera
 Did you?' I asked innocently and closed the shutter, once more unob- served. May we have one of the pictures if they turn out well7'