iminalists have written minute treaties on the hair
and astounding results have been obtained by them in detection.

"I have been able to secure samples of the hair of everyone in this case
and I have studied them also. These hairs in the hat which was left over
the package of filters have furnished me with a slender but no less
damning clew to a veritable monster."

One could have heard a pin drop, as if Kennedy were a judge pronouncing
a death sentence.

"Dr. Loeb is guilty of being one of the most heartless of quacks, it is
true," Kennedy's voice rang out tensely, as he faced us. "But the slow
murders, one by one, bringing the family estate nearer and nearer--they
were done by one who hoped to throw the blame on Dr. Loeb, by the man
whose hair I have here--Lionel Moreton."

CHAPTER XXXI

THE VOODOO MYSTERY

"Everybody's crazy, Kennedy. The whole world is going mad!"

Our old friend, Burke, of the Secret Service, scowled at the innocent
objects in Craig's laboratory as he mopped his broad forehead.

"And the Secret Service is as bad as the rest," he went on, still
scowling and not waiting for any comment from us. "Why, what with these
European spies and agitators, strikers and dynamiters, we're nearly
dippy. Here, in less than a week I've been shifted off war cases to
Mexico and now to Hayti. I don't mean that I've been away, of
course,--oh, no. You don't have to go to them. They come to us. Confound
it, New York is full of plots and counterplots. I tell you, Kennedy, the
whole world is crazy."

Craig listened with sympathy mixed with amusement. "Can I help you out?"
he asked.

"If you don't I'll be dippy, too," returned Burke with a whimsical
grimace.

"What's the trouble with Hayti, then?" encouraged Kennedy seriously.

"Trouble enough," answered Burke. "Why, here's that Caribbean
liner, _Haytien_, just in from Port au Prince. She's full of
refugees--government supporters and revolutionists--you never saw such a
menagerie since the ark."

I watched Burke keenly as he cut loose with his often picturesque
language. Somehow, it seemed rather fascinating to have the opera bouffe
side of the Black Republic presented to us. At least it was different
from anything we had had lately--and perhaps not at all opera bouffe,
either. Kennedy, at least, did not seem to think so, for although he was
very busy at the time, seemed prepared to lay aside his work to aid
Burke.

"You haven't heard about it yet