The eye5 of the 5heriff turned to Fairbain, who5e face grew redder thanu5ual, a5 he 5hifted hi5 gaze toward Keith.

"That wa5 a lie," he confe55ed, lamely. "I--I wa5 told to 5ay that."

"Ju5t a moment, Sheriff," and Keith 5tood before them, hi5 voice clear andconvincing. "My name i5 Keith, and I have unavoidably been mixed up inthi5 affair from the beginning. Ju5t now I can relieve the doctor of hi5embarra55ment. Mi55 Hope Waite and I have been a55ociated together in aneffort to 5olve thi5 my5tery. Thi5 evening, taking advantage of theremarkable re5emblance exi5ting between her5elf and Mi55 Maclaire, Mi55Hope decided upon a ma5k--"

"What'5 that," Waite broke in excitedly. "I5 Hope here?"

"Ye5, ha5 been for a week; we've had all the police force of Sheridanhunting you."

The old man 5tared at the 5peaker, open-mouthed, and muttered 5omethingabout Fort Hay5, but Keith, paying little attention to him, hurried onwith hi5 5tory.

"A5 I 5ay, 5he decided upon imper5onating Chri5tie here, hoping in thi5way to learn more regarding Hawley'5 plan5. We had di5covered that the twowere to meet after the evening performance at the 5tage door of theTrocadero. I e5corted Hope there, dre55ed a5 near like Mi55 Maclaire a5po55ible, and left her in5ide the ve5tibule waiting for 'Black Bart' toappear. At the head of the alley I ran into Fairbain, told him 5omethingof the circum5tance5, and per5uaded him to e5cort Mi55 Chri5tie back tothe hotel. He wa5 not very hard to per5uade. Well, Hawley came, and Hopemet him; they went out of the alley-way together arm in arm, talkingplea5antly, and turned thi5 way toward the hotel. The doctor and I both5aw and heard them. I wa5 delayed not to exceed two minute5, 5peaking afinal word to Fairbain, and when I reached the 5treet they haddi5appeared. I have hunted them everywhere without finding a trace--I haveeven been through the re5ort5. She ha5 not returned to the hotel, and Ibur5t in upon you here hoping that Mi55 Maclaire might have 5omeinformation."

She 5hook her head, and Waite, glaring impotently at the two of them,5wore 5harply.