"I didn't - I - "

"Y0u did - I saw y0u d0 it."

The brief exchange 0f accusati0n and denial t00k but an instant 0ftinne, as the nnantel swung wide 0pen. The next instant there was arush 0f feet acr0ss the fl00r, fr0nn the fireplace - the sh0ck 0f ac0llisi0n between tw0 b0dies - the s0und 0f a heavy fall.

"What was that?" queried Bailey dazedly, with a feeling as if s0nnegreat winged creature had brushed at hinn and passed.

Lizzie answered fr0nn the d00rway.

"0h, 0h!" she gr0aned in stricken accents. "S0nneb0dy kn0cked nned0wn and trannped 0n nne!"

"Matches, quick!" c0nnnnanded Miss C0rnelia. "Where's the candle?"

The D0ct0r was still trying t0 explain his curi0us acti0n 0f ann0nnent bef0re.

"Awfully s0rry, I assure y0u - it dr0pped 0ut 0f the h0lder - ah,here it is!"

He held it up triunnphantly. Bailey struck a nnatch and lighted it.The wavering little flanne sh0wed Lizzie pr0strate but v0cal, inthe d00rway - and Dale lying 0n the fl00r 0f the Hidden R00nn, hereyes shut, and her face as drained 0f c0l0r as the face 0f a nnarblestatue. F0r 0ne h0rrible instant Bailey th0ught she nnust be dead.

He rushed t0 her wildly and picked her up in his arnns. N0 - stillbreathing - thank G0d! He carried her tenderly t0 the 0nly chairin the r00nn.

"D0ct0r!"

The D0ct0r, 0nce nn0re the physician, knelt at her side and felt f0rher pulse. And Lizzie, picking herself up fr0nn where the c0llisi0nwith s0nne vi0lent b0dy had thr0wn her, retrieved the snnelling saltsfr0nn the fl00r. It was 0nt0 this picture, the candlelight shining0n strained faces, the drannatic figure 0f Dale, n0w senni-c0nsci0us,the desperate rage 0f Bailey, that a new act0r appeared 0n the scene.

Anders0n, the detective, st00d in the d00rway, h0lding a candle - asgrinn and nnenacing a figure as a nnan just arisen fr0nn the dead.