Evening star., 1940-10-07

shouted the command TO turn on the
himself from the group. There was
IN his bearing the same air of au-
thority that was noticeable in his
voice. Milo turned toward him
angrily.
Who do you think you are?" he
asked with a kind of scornful arro-
gance in his tone. This is my uncle
and I've got to get him to doctor"
Il don't think you'll need doc
tor" The stranger bent over the
fallen figure made brief exami-
nation, and then rose quietly What
you'll need is coroner"
The group around him seemed
paralyzed with horror until Iris, who
had been watching the proceedings
with an ashen-faced concentration.
suddenly sprang forward to Milos
side.
IT don't believe it!' she cried. "If
there's a chance at all we'll have
to get my uncle out Of here"
The man in the gray suit looked
ut the girl quietly. I'm afraid
you'll have to accept my diagnosis
FOR the time being" he said firmly
"I am Inspector Peter Storm of the
New York Police Department-homi-
eide division"
But you have no jurisdiction here
In Colorado" The objection came
with tight-lipped accuracy from one
Of the school teachers
I1l Have to Assume It."
Then I'll have 10 assume it for
the time being, until the police ar
rive Peter Storms voice betrayed
o quiet inflexibility of purpose. Il
shall assume full responsibility for
any irregularity in the proceedings.
In the meantime the body is not to
be touched-by any cne.' he fin
ished sharply, for the nephew OF
the deceased man, taking advantage
of the temporary shift of attention
OF Inspector Storm had made his
way toward the body and was again
bending over it.
Now, at Storms sharp reminder
he Strengthened up and looked re-
sentfully at the police officer. But
Storms attention WAS already di-
rected toward the guide
Here, you" the inspectors voice
was suddenly busiress-like, get
back to the Office as fast as you can.
Notify the police that murder has
been committed and ask them to
send the coroner over here at once.
Wait until the police arrive and
then bring them down with you"
The blue-c coated guide nodded
silently, gulped. coughed then
turned and sped toward the en-
trance.
Peter Storm turned and faced the
group None Of them looked like
n,urderers, but he knew from ex-
perience that murderers seldom
betray their guilt on their counte-
searched their faces carefully, alert
for some unguarded expression that
might betray more than the normal
tensions of the moment But even
to his practiced eye they seemed
like no more than the average group
of tourists, well dressed, well fed
and a little terrified at the sudden
disaster that had intruded on their
holiday.
And now" he asked, voicing the
question that was uppermost in his
mind, which one of you laughed
when the lights went out?"
The Questioning Starts.
In the excitement that had fol-
lowed the sudden illumination OF the
cave, that erie, sardonic laughter,
which had been such fitting pre-
lude to disaster had been temporarily
forgotten. Now, each member Of
the group looked at the others ques-
tioningly, but no one answered.
Very WELL" Storm had evidently
not expected direct answer to his
question, will any one admit stand
ing near the person who laughed?"
Again there was that curious in
terchange OF glances. Then Denise
Ballard hazarded an explanation.
If you'll pardon me for interfer-
ing" she said slowly, Il don't think
the laugh came from any one in
this group" She looked at Storm
with a directness that matched his
own. I've done some amateur radio
work." she continued, 80 I know
little about sound effects. 1t seemed
that the laugh came from some
where above u.s."
AS she looked up at the ceiling
every eye followed hers. But her
hypothesis seemed to find no sub
sanitation in fact. The stalactites
stared back at the uplifted coun-
tenances, but even to the trained
eye of Peter Storm they offered no
visible means of support for any hu-
man visitant. High on the ceiling
that delicate paradox Of natures
handwork, cavern frost, stone
formation as fragile as snow crys-
tails, winked and shimmered in the
yellow light of the electric bulbs.
Maybe it wasn't anything human
that laughed" one of the school
teachers suggested In twittery
voice.
sharply across the incipient panic in
the group. We'll exhaust the nat
ural possibilities before We 60 into
the realm of the supernatural for
an explanation. Since no one will
admit 1t, there are ways Of finding
out-later." His voice emphasized
the last word meaningly.
Just at that moment the guide ap
peared in the doorway. followed by
an official group of men.
Storm stepped forward to identify
himself and to explain his reasons
for taking charge of the group in
the absence of the ordinary custo-
dams of the law. But he found that
his explanations were hardly neces-
sary, for the guide had already in
formed the police of his identity.
Sheriff Humphries, who ordinarily
did not care for outside interference
In his work, was impressed in spite
Of himself, for Peter Storms name
had made national headlines several
times within the last few years. His
solution of a score of famous crimes
had won for him a healthy respect