he seized Leslie's arm in so muscular a
grip that Leslie winced. "No, it didn't, you little pocket-edition
_Sherlock Holmes_! But I see what you're driving at. To know about that
side door, one must have been pretty well acquainted with that
bungalow--_lived_ in it for a while! Aha! No wonder you're curious about
the last occupant. We'll have to count that old gentleman in on this!"

"Yes, but here's the mystery," reminded Leslie. "You said he lived here
alone except for his man-servant. Remember, please, that the footprint we
saw--was a _woman's_!"

Phyllis tore at her hair in mock despair. "Worse and more of it!" she
groaned. "But the deeper it gets, the more determined I grow to get to
the bottom of it!"

They strolled on a while in silence. Suddenly Phyllis asked, "Where's
Rags this morning?"

"He doesn't seem to feel very well to-day. Something seems to have
disagreed with him--perhaps too many hermit-crabs! Anyway, he's lying
around on the veranda and seems to want to stay near Aunt Marcia and
sleep. She said she'd keep him there."

"Best news I've heard in an age!" exclaimed Phyllis, delightedly. "That
dog is a most faithful article, Leslie, but he's a decided nuisance
sometimes! And now, I have a gorgeous idea that I've been wanting to try
for two days. Father and Ted have gone off for the day up the inlet, and
Rags is out of commission. Here's our chance. Do you realize that there's
one bedroom in Curlew's Nest we didn't have a chance to explore the other
day? Let's go and do it right now. I'll run down to our house for the
electric torch and meet you at the side door. There's not a soul around
to interfere with us!"

"Oh, no, Phyllis! I really don't think we ought--" objected Leslie,
recalling all too vividly the unpleasantness of their former experience.
But Phyllis was off and far away while she was still expostulating, and
in the end, Leslie found herself awaiting her companion in the vicinity
of the side door of Curlew's Nest.

They entered the dark bungalow with beating hearts, more aware this time
than ever that mystery lurked in the depth of it. Straight to the
unexplored bedroom they proceeded, for, as Leslie reminded them, they had
no time to waste; Rags might have an untimely recovery and come seeking
them as before! Ted also might be prompted by his evil genius to descend
on them; or even Aunt Marcia might be minded to hunt them up.

The bedroom in question, as Phyllis now recalled, was the