"Here are you two, my dears," she said, placing the queens of diamonds and clubs side by side. "And here is Professor Saylor." She added the king of hearts to the group. "And here am I." She placed the queen of spades so that it overlapped all three. "Off here to the side is the queen of hearts--Tansy Saylor. Now what I intend to do is this." She moved the queen of hearts so that it exactly covered the queen of spades. "You don't understand? Well, it isn't what it looks like, and neither of you is especially bright. You'll understand in a moment. Professor Saylor and I have just had an ever so interesting talk," she went on. "All about his work. Haven't we, Professor Saylor?" He nodded. "He's made some of the most fascinating discoveries. It seems that there are laws governing the things that we women have been puttering with. Men are so clever in some ways, don't you think? "He's been good enough to tell all those laws to me. You'd never dream how much easier and safer it makes everything--and more efficient. Efficiency is so very important these days. Why, already Professor Saylor has made something for me--I won't tell you what it is, but there's one for each of you and one for someone else. They aren't presents, because I'll keep them all. And if one of you should do something naughty, they'll make it ever so easy for me to whisk part of you away--you know what part. "And now something is going to happen that will enable Professor Saylor and I to work together very closely in the future--how closely you could never imagine. You're to help. That's why you're here. Open the dining-room door, Norman." * * * * * It was an old-fashioned sliding door, gleaming white. Slowly he pushed it aside. "There," said Mrs. Carr. "My second surprise. I'm full of surprises tonight." The body was lashed to a chair. From over the gag, the eyes of Tansy Saylor glared at them with impotent hate and a trapped fear. Evelyn Sawtelle half rose, stifling a scream. "You needn't get hysterics, Evelyn," said Mrs. Carr sharply. "It's got a soul in it now." Evelyn Sawtelle sank back, lips trembling. Mrs. Gunnison's face had grown pale, but she set her jaw firmly and put her elbows on the table. "I don't like it," she said. "It's too open--too risky." "I am able to take chances I wouldn't have taken a week ago, dear," Mrs. Carr said sweetly. "In this matter your aid and Evelyn's is essential to me. Of course, you're perfectly welcome not to help, if you don't want to. Only I do hope you understand the consequences." Mrs. Gunnison dropped her eyes. "All right," she said. "But let's be quick about it." "I am a very old woman," began Mrs. Carr, with tantalizing slowness, "and I am very fond of life. It has been a little dispiriting for me to think that mine is drawing to a close. And, for reasons I think you understand, I have something more to fear in death than most persons.