ary questions, was confined to the
offering of Nita Selim's "last will and testament" and the note to
Lydia.

The reporters, who had obviously feared that nothing new would
eventuate, sat up with startled interest, then their pencils flew, as
Dundee read the two documents, after he had told when and where he had
discovered them. As District Attorney Sanderson had said; "Better give
the press something new to chew on, but for God's sake don't mention
that checkbook of Nita's. It's dynamite, boy--dynamite!"

While the morgue chapel was still in a buzz of excitement, Dundee was
dismissed, and District Attorney Sanderson requested an adjournment of
the inquest for one week.

The police were urging the crowd upon its way before it became fully
aware that it had been cheated of the pleasure of hearing, at first
hand, the stories of that fatal bridge and cocktail party from the
guests themselves.

"Tell the Carr woman I want to speak to her," Sanderson directed Dundee.
"She'll thank you for rescuing her from the reporters."

As Dundee pushed his way through the jam he heard a reporter earnestly
pleading with Lois Dunlap: "But I'm sure you can remember the cards each
player held in that 'death hand,' Mrs. Dunlap--"

Cheerfully sure that he could trust Lois Dunlap's discretion and
distaste for publicity, Dundee went on, grinning at the reporter's use
of his own lurid phrase.

Two minutes later Sanderson, Strawn and Dundee were closeted in Dr.
Price's own office with Lydia Carr.

"First, Lydia," began Sanderson, "I want to warn you to give the
reporters no information at all regarding the nature or extent of your
mistress' bequest."

"It was little enough she had, poor girl, beyond her clothes and a few
pieces of jewelry," Lydia answered stubbornly. "Are you going to let me
do what she told me to, in that note?... Not that I hold with burning--"

"I see no reason why you should not take charge of the body, Lydia, and
arrange it immediately for cremation.... Do you, Captain Strawn?"
Sanderson answered.

"No, sir. The quicker the better."

"Then, Lydia, if Captain Strawn will send you out to the Selim house
with one of his boys, you may get the dress described in Mrs. Selim's
note--"

"And the curls she cut off and had made into switches," Lydia
interrupted. "I can't dress my poor girl's hair in a French roll without
them!"

"The curls, too," Sanderson agreed. "Now as to the cremation--"

"Mrs. Miles let me com