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neverro—you have likewise destroyed the alibi you yourself possessed.”

The fortune-teller threw back his head and laughed. “Do I need an alibi?” he cried.

“Perhaps not,” Charlie grinned. “But when a tree falls, the shade is gone. Who knows? Even you might regret the loss of that shade in time.”

“It may happen that I have another tree,” suggested Tarneverro.

“If that is true, I congratulate you.” Charlie glanced around the room. “I must have poor unfortunate lady removed now to house, then lock this place until finger-print expert can do work early in morning. You will observe we do not move with vast speed here in Hawaii. It is our lovely climate.” He put the watch in the dressing-table drawer, and he and Tarneverro went out, Chan again locking the door. “We will now continue to living-room, which we will seek to obtain to ourselves. Perhaps there you will deign to keep on with remarkable research. I travel in luck to-night. What could I do without you?”

A little group of chairs on the lawn indicated the whereabouts of most of the guests. In the living-room they came upon Julie and Jimmy Bradshaw, seated close together. The girl had evidently been crying, and Mr. Bradshaw’s manner suggested that he played the role of comforter. Chan gave Julie the key to the pavilion, and told her gently what must be done. She and the boy went out to seek the aid of the servants.

When they had gone, Charlie walked thoughtfully up and down the big room. He peered into receptacles that held flowers and plants, opened the few books he came upon and ruffled the pages.