together. Their amenability added to Williams’ suspicion and it was his suggestion that they should bring Stokes with them on their hunt. When that was finished they planned taking Mrs. Stokes to the place of the murder and making her rehearse just what she had seen.

Starting from the Point they explored the island foot by foot, scouting across the open expanses where a rabbit could hardly have hidden and prying into the hollows and rifts of the boulders on the shore. On the sea front, wedged [Pg 160]between miniature cliffs, there were triangles and crescents of sand, bathing beaches with small pavilions built against the cliffs. But no foot-prints marred the sand’s wave-beaten smoothness, no trail of broken grass and brambles indicated the passage of a body. The path that followed the bluff’s edge, making a detour round the ravines, yielded neither trace nor clue. The dressing-rooms back of the amphitheater behind a clump of cedars, gave no sign of having harbored an alien presence. The little amphitheater itself, sunk in its green cup, lay open to their eyes as they stood on its brink. They walked among the stone seats, seamed with a velvet padding of moss, and gathered up a few programs, a pair of woman’s gloves and a necklace of blue beads.

[Pg 160]

That brought them to the end. The house had no outbuildings; garages, barns and sheds were in the village across the channel. There was no one in hiding on the island.

They found Flora, Shine and Mrs. Cornell on the balcony. As they came up Flora looked at [Pg 161]them and then averted her glance as if in proud determination to show no curiosity. Rouge had been applied to her cheeks and her dry lips were a vivid rose color. The high tints showed ghastly on her withered skin but her dark eyes were scintillant with an avid burning vitality. It was like a face still holding the colors and hot warmth of youth suddenly stricken by untimely age.

[Pg 161]

Williams, halting at the foot of the steps, told her what they wanted—her position and Miss Saunders’ at the time of the shooting, going over the ground and making it clear to them. She rose alertly with a quick understanding nod—she would be glad to, it was her earnest desire to be of help to them in any way she could. Rawson noticed that she did not look at her husband but kept her eyes on Williams with an intent frowning concentration, moving her head in agreement with his instructions.

At the shore she was eager to explain everything, took her place on the path where she had been when 

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