's a good thing I carry my key with me, or we would have lost about
ten minutes," said Shirley and she unlocked the door and let the girls
in.

Shirley made a dive toward the dark room.

"What are you going to do now?" asked Joy.

"I'll get everything ready in here to develop the plate; just as soon
as Colonel Baxter comes."

At exactly quarter past three Bet's father arrived, bearing Shirley's
camera as if it were the queen's fan itself.

"Here's your deer, Shirley. Put him in the bath and let's have a look
at him. I'm first!"

"You've earned that right," Shirley answered.

"All right! No one must come near until I call." He and Shirley
disappeared behind the curtained doorway and silence settled over the
group as Shirley developed the negative.

After much waiting and eager straining of ears, the girls caught a
startled cry from Shirley. They crowded into the dark room, as Shirley
said impatiently:

"Oh Colonel Baxter, it isn't a deer at all! Isn't that mean? Look
here! Oh, I won't go on with it, I'll smash the old thing!" and
Shirley made as if to throw the plate into the discard.

Colonel Baxter caught her arm in time to save it. "Hold on there,
Shirley. That plate may be worth more to you than the prize contest
would bring. Finish developing it."

"What is it?" cried Bet. "Do let us see!" and the three girls crowded
closer.

"What's all the excitement about? What are the Merriweather Girls
doing now?" asked Bob Evans as he and Phil Gordon came into Shirley's
Shop and followed the girls to the dark room.

"Ssh! Bob! We think Shirley's got a picture of a deer or some other
wild animal. Keep quiet."

"Yes, keep quiet Phil!" laughed Bob. "The wild animal might get
excited and run."

Everything in the dark room was quiet as Shirley developed the plate.
Colonel Baxter and the girls pressed closer together to let the boys
crowd in.

"Why Dad, it isn't a deer at all, it's a man!" exclaimed Bet as she
stood looking over Shirley's shoulder.

"I suspected as much, but we want to know who the man is."

"Oh Dad...." Bet left the sentence unfinished. She edged close to her
father and held his hand. Her own felt cold and clammy while her face
burned. She did not dare to turn toward Phil, whose face showed dimly
in the red glow.

"I'm so disappointed!" exclaimed Shirley. "I could just weep!"

"Who is it?" asked Phil.

The Colonel answered quietly: "If I am not mistaken, it's the m