" "Slade is the solution," said the captain.

Miss Slade is a young lady of the very highest respectabilityshe has resided in this hotel for three years!"

Ambler Appleyard went to bed that night wondering greatly about two mattersfirst, why Miss Slade was Miss Slade in Bayswater and Mrs. Marlow at Fullaway's office; second, if Miss Slade or Mrs. Marlow, whichever she really was, had any secrets with the mysterious Mr. Rayner.

If Miss Slade, alias Mrs. Marlow, is a member of the gangif there is onewhich killed and robbed James Allerdyke, it's a decidedly odd and queer thing that she should frame the victim's portrait and hang it where she'll see it last thing at night and first thing in the morning.

" "Then, whyever wasn't 'ee, Mrs. Slade?" "Well-a-well, my dear, I'm sure I dunno.

" He told Allerdyke the whole story of his endeavour to find out something about Rayner merely because Rayner seemed to be in Miss Slade's confidence, and because Miss Slade was certainly a woman of mystery.