sharp tug. There was a shrill twanging sound, and he dropped it with a startled oath. The thing fell to the

floor. It writhed, the single wire of which it was made uncoiling.

Uncoiling, it glided over the floor like a serpent and came to rest, quivering.

We looked from it to the table.

The substance that had resembled a sprawling, flattened, headless body was gone. In its place was a film

of fine gray dust which swirled and eddied for a moment in some unfelt draft-and then, too, was gone.

CHAPTER X: NURSE'S CAP AND WITCH'S LADDER

"She knows how to get rid of the evidence!"

Braile laughed-but there was no mirth in his laughter. I said nothing. It was the same thought I had held

of McCann when the doll's head had vanished. But McCann could not be suspected of this. Evading any