n the two.

"You have your pendant?"

Mr. Driscoll's suffering eye shone down on Violet Strange's uplifted
face as she advanced to say good-bye preparatory to departure.

"Yes," she acknowledged, "but hardly, I fear, your gratitude."

And the answer astonished her.

"I am not sure that the real Alicia will not make her father happier
than the unreal one has ever done."

"And Captain Holliday?"

"He may come to feel the same."

"Then I do not quit in disgrace?"

"You depart with my thanks."

When a certain personage was told of the success of Miss Strange's
latest manoeuvre, he remarked: "The little one progresses. We shall have
to give her a case of prime importance next."

END OF PROBLEM I

PROBLEM II. THE SECOND BULLET

"You must see her."

"No. No."

"She's a most unhappy woman. Husband and child both taken from her in a
moment; and now, all means of living as well, unless some happy
thought of yours--some inspiration of your genius--shows us a way of
re-establishing her claims to the policy voided by this cry of suicide."

But the small wise head of Violet Strange continued its slow shake of
decided refusal.

"I'm sorry," she protested, "but it's quite out of my province. I'm too
young to meddle with so serious a matter."

"Not when you can save a bereaved woman the only possible compensation
left her by untoward fate?"

"Let the police try their hand at that."

"They have had no success with the case."

"Or you?"

"Nor I either."

"And you expect--"

"Yes, Miss Strange. I expect you to find the missing bullet which will
settle the fact that murder and not suicide ended George Hammond's life.
If you cannot, then a long litigation awaits this poor widow, ending, as
such litigation usually does, in favour of the stronger party. There's
the alternative. If you once saw her--"

"But that's what I'm not willing to do. If I once saw her I should yield
to her importunities and attempt the seemingly impossible. My instincts
bid me say no. Give me something easier."

"Easier things are not so remunerative. There's money in this affair, if
the insurance company is forced to pay up. I can offer you--"

"What?"

There was eagerness in the tone despite her effort at nonchalance. The
other smiled imperceptibly, and briefly named the sum.

It was larger than she had expected. This her visitor saw by the way her
eyelids fell and the peculiar stillness which, for an instant, held her
vi