The Deep Lake Mystery
driven home with?" I
ve been used. True, it could have been driven by some other hard or heavy obje
t saw no implement that
ints. To be sure they may be all faked in an attempt to bewilder and mislead the investigat
red him. "Where are
with the watch in the water pitcher. That, you will
stress that so. Why is that silly act mor
ous, but that may be my trump card, and I don't want to expose it p
rapeutic value in the incident. Is
just then, and Moore aske
on the dresser. The water pitcher had been on a near-by table. It seemed, lik
ried, Griscom?" Kee sai
, sir. About
onsequence compared to the gra
were in their right place Wednesday morning. And Miss Alm
I said, hastily, anxious to keep
as interest
sure?"
ternoon and the master may have given her the weskits then, but s
as to the day," I repeated. "
iently. "What about the Totem Pole, Gri
r certain--" He
idents that made no real impression on you at the time. Nobody can. And don't try
ferentially enough, but I caught a s
se waistcoats?" asked Ever
Kee sai
cle gave them to her on Tuesday, but I know tha
time?" Mo
nless there are ladies here. He h
d all the foolish scene on the bed, also grabbed up two waistcoats and the To
say she wanted the
ument led. "But she was so put about and bewildered by tha
dly admonition. "You'd better hush up, if you don't mind. I'm not sure Miss Remsen
s serious, and I began to see
myself to hush up to the degree desired. In the si
he had seemed cheer
lance that he could not mistake f
he canoe Wedn
rds. Then realizing his slip, he said, quickly, "No
Dean, I'm not investigating, I'm only anxious to
an said, stubbornly, and again
trick of blushing like a schoolgirl gives you away, and makes you seem to admit far more than you know. Now, before Detective March or Keeley Moore gets after
et the poor chap's mind at rest, for I could see
of manner and tone, and speak
but I heard Alma's paddling. I'd know her strok
t recognize a me
you. She has a peculiar rhythm, and
time wa
s later, just after the clock in t
you tell
ut I'm banking on your statement that you're loyal to Alma and I'm hoping that you c
k she had anyth
if that's what you're trying to say, but I do believe she was here late
at variance with his former boyish embarr
come here at
e-she has her own key--"
past one at night! What
cleverness you may possess to keep the hounds off her track! She will be persecuted, unless we can save her!" He bega
I was glad to have a sympathizer in my belief in A
felt certain that Everett and Keeley Moore were talk
e with Dean just then, I
I asked, trying t
t me, and sm
. "You see, the waistcoats and the Totem Pole di
important
thing that is here or that
ing," I told him. "Then the hammer th
nswered, gravely. "Do
r it very hard. If the murderer is one of this hou
he hammer is only of interest if
e any headway
s. Mr. Everett here
was the somewhat surprising obse
s only suspects me because it's the conventional thing to do. In stories, you
t most. Then, three tenths by the butler, three te
e used up your quota of tenths alread
. "And there's no way out of this locked apartment except t
o that and come up
ot. I know the rocks and all that, but it'
ou all as to his prowess in
be," Everett asse
e house, he proposed we go in a boat, of which t
ey selected a trim round-botto
in silence. I too felt disinclined to talk, and we sho
or crime. Yet here was black crime, stalking through the landscape, aiming for
t. The densely growing trees, judiciously thinned out or cut into vistas, made a perfect background, and the foreground
ddenly realized that we ha
g he had forgotten to lan
"Come along, Gray, but for Heaven's sake don't say anything foolis
you. Don't be silly, Kee, I s
said, grimly, and then we made
ouse that received us, and I realized th
hore were even now whistling faintly in the summer br
en so many trees on one island. So dense that they seemed like an impenetrabl
k into a sort of lane between t
reat clearing where was a charming cotta
court, bowling green and a field showing
gh called a cottage, was a good-sized affair, of two and a half stories, with verandahs and balconies, an
shuddered involuntarily. I became conscious of a siniste
I thought, was bright and cheerful only immediately around the house. Surrounding the clearing for th
, and as we went up the steps, A
forget how s
soft short ringlets like a baby's curls. I know a lot, having sisters, about marcel and permanent, about water waves and
hick curls at the top of her head. I had never seen such fascinating
orts suit of white si
own at this a
all white. But I am, when I go over to the mainland
ppealingly, though wi
"Our affection is not made or ma
but Kee had told me not to make a fool
tably, but though calm, she
to luncheon. It's late now, and my wife will be furious. Miss R
hands clasped in her lap and her little white-
uck up heart a bit, "about the waistcoats. Though it may be a trifling matter, yet great is
e I was startled at the message in her eyes. If ever a call of SOS was sig
though I would gladly have defied him to serve her, I could see no way to do so, fool or no fool. All I could do, wa
see a shadow of disappointment that I
answer, but she was delibe
ou questioning me, M
your welfare and my great desire to be of servic
is the
emsen, that
ce to me only by refraining from questioning me
led face of the girl before us. Her eyelids quivered with that agonized trembling I
once, but I must warn you that the police will doubtless
breathed, sc
will do his duty, and it will be an ordeal for you. Now, won't you let me help yo
wits' end. The reason for her distress I did not see, for surely nobody could dream of her being mix
t, that she had seen or heard the murderer at his fell deed, and that it
y Dean, that is, if she care
forgin
ome this afternoon. You will have to see him; one can't evade the law. Now, let me help you to be a little prepared f
ty; her lips set in a straight line that betokened determination and courage; and her eyes
I think it was at that moment that I realized that I loved
moment, but I could worship her and did
s new Al
am alone in the world; alone, I must fight my battles and conquer my foes. Alone I must defend my actions and accept my misfortunes. I live alone, I shall always be alone, and alone I must decide up
g call brought the
s, my darling,
ling girl to her bosom and glar
leave my young lady for the present. She will see you, if she wishes, at some other time. But now, s
y of a tragedy queen, and I know I felt like a worm of th
st bit of unso
rivale," he said, and no one could have put any construction on
and Keeley rowed us