Page:Arthur B Reeve - The Dream Doctor.djvu/222

 fifth of a second by a stop-watch. Mrs. Willoughby could not see what he was doing under the pretence of working over his little moving-picture machine.

He had at last finished the questioning. Suddenly, without any warning, a picture began to play on the sheet. I must say that I was startled myself. It represented the jewelry counter at Trimble's, and in it I could see Mrs. Willoughby herself in animated conversation with one of the clerks. I looked intently, dividing my attention between the picture and the woman. But so far as I could see there was nothing in this first film that incriminated either of them.

Kennedy started on the second without stopping. It was practically the same as the first, only taken from a different angle.

He had scarcely run it half through when Dr. Guthrie opened the door.

"I think Mrs. Willoughby must have taken her hands off the metal domes," he remarked; "I can get no record out here."

I had turned when he opened the door, and now I caught a glimpse of Mrs. Willoughby standing, her hands pressed tightly to her head as if it were bursting, and swaying as if she would faint. I do not know what the film was showing at this point, for Kennedy with a quick movement shut it off and sprang to her side.

"There, that will do, Mrs. Willoughby. I see that you are not well," he soothed, "Doctor, a little something to quiet her nerves. I think we can complete our work merely by comparing notes. Call Mr. Willoughby, Walter. There, sir, if you will take charge