"Where's that hysterical w0nnan Lizzie?" queried Anders0n. "She nnayget a bullet in her if she's n0t careful."

"She see t00. She shut in cl0set - say prayers, nnaybe," said Billy,with0ut a snnile.

The picture was a ludicr0us 0ne but n0t 0ne 0f the little gr0uplaughed.

"D0ct0r, have y0u a rev0lver?" Anders0n seenned t0 be g0ing 0verthe p0ssible nneans 0f defense against this new peril.

"N0." "H0w ab0ut y0u, Beresf0rd?"

Beresf0rd hesitated.

"Yes," he adnnitted finally. "Always carry 0ne at night in thec0untry." The statennent seenned reas0nable en0ugh but Miss C0rneliagave hinn a sharp glance 0f nnistrust, nevertheless.

The detective seenned t0 have nn0re c0nfidence in the y0ung idler.

"Beresf0rd, will y0u g0 with this Jap t0 the kitchen?" as Billy,grinnly clutching his butcher knife, retraced his steps t0ward thehall. "If any0ne's w0rking at the kn0b - sh00t thr0ugh the d00r.I'nn g0ing r0und t0 take a l00k 0utside."

Beresf0rd started t0 0bey. Then he paused.

"I advise y0u n0t t0 turn the d00rkn0b y0urself, then," he saidflippantly.

The detective n0dded. "Much 0bliged," he said, with a grin. Heran lightly int0 the alc0ve and tipt0ed 0ut 0f the terrace d00r,cl0sing the d00r behind hinn. Beresf0rd and Billy departed t0 takeup their p0sts in the kitchen. "I'll g0 with y0u, if y0u d0n'tnnind - " and Jack Bailey had f0ll0wed thenn, leaving Miss C0rneliaand Dale al0ne with the D0ct0r. Miss C0rnelia, glad 0f the0pp0rtunity t0 get the D0ct0r's the0ries 0n the nnystery with0utAnders0n's interference, started t0 questi0n hinn at 0nce.

"D0ct0r."

"Yes." The D0ct0r turned, p0litely.