the boss!' I say: 'Doll! What you mean doll?' He tell me. I know nothing of any doll before. I see the boss

carry something in his coat, si. But I don't know what. But I see one goddam thing that don't look like

cat, dog. It jump out of car, through my legs, si!"

I said ironically: "Is it your idea, McCann, that this mechanical doll was geared to run away as well as to

stab?"

He flushed, but answered quietly:

"I ain't saying it was a mechanical doll. But anything else would be-well, pretty crazy, wouldn't it?"

"McCann," I asked abruptly, "what do you want me to do?"

"Doc, when I was down Arizona way, there was a ranchero died. Died sudden. There was a feller

looked as if he had a lot to do with it. The marshal said: 'Hombre, I don't think you done it-but I'm the