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Miss Madelyn Mack, Detective

uneasily. Madelyn took the dog's head in her lap, and was silent so long I thought she had forgotten me.

Suddenly she leaned back in her chair and her eyes half closed.

"One more question, Nora, if you please. I believe you said in your report that, when the group of searchers were leaving Endicott's vacant room, a small, silver ball rolled from the sill to the floor. Do you happen to know whether the ball is solid or hollow?"

I smiled. "It is hollow. I examined it this afternoon. But surely such a trivial incident—"

Madelyn pushed back her chair with a quick gesture of satisfaction. "How often must I tell you that nothing is trivial in crime? That answer atones for all of your previous failures, Nora. You may go to the head of the class! No, not another word!" she interrupted as I stared at her. "I don't want to think or talk—now. I must have some music to clear my brain if I am to scatter these cobwebs!"

I sank back with a sigh of resignation and watched her as she stepped across to the phonograph, resting on the cabinet of records in the corner. I knew from experience that she had veered into a mood in which I would have gained an instant rebuke had I attempted to press the case

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