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Rh she nearly went crazy when she dropped me and found that my back would never be straight again; she's nearly smothered me with devotion ever since.—Did you tip off old Adams?"

"He's following my instructions now," Odell replied, wondering as he did so why he was giving this strange boy such complete confidence. If Rannie could in some way have slipped off downstairs and unseen dropped the poison into that cup before the broth was placed in it, his audacity and queer, warped sense of humor would have found rare sport in hoodwinking the man who had set himself to solve the problem.

Rannie chuckled.

"I'd like to have seen his face when he found out what was going on," he exclaimed. "Have you any idea yet as to who is doing this thing, Sergeant? I don't believe Cissie is in any more danger now that you have discovered what ails her; but Aunt Effie, Nan, and I are the only ones left of the family who have not received the attentions of our enemy, and I am curious to know where the lightning will strike next."

"We will soon see," Odell said. "There is your aunt going downstairs now; I want to speak to her."

But Miss Meade had already reached the ground floor and was starting toward the pantry as he descended the stairs, and Odell decided to wait for her return. He seated himself on the settle in the hall and gave himself up to the contemplation of the fresh problem which confronted him. Miss Meade herself and Richard Lome were as obviously beyond question as was the supposition that Cissie was poisoning herself. Nan was away and Gerda had gone.