Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. See 45622-h.htm or 45622-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45622/45622-h/45622-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45622/45622-h.zip) [Illustration front: "I THINK YOU MUST ANSWER, MISS STUART," SAID STONE, GENTLY _Page 208_] THE CURVED BLADES by CAROLYN WELLS Author of "A Chain of Evidence," "The Gold Bag," "The Clue," "The White Alley," Etc. With a Frontispiece in Color by Gayle Hoskins Philadelphia and London J. B. Lippincott Company 1916 Copyright, 1916, by Frank A. Munsey Company Copyright, 1916, by J. B. Lippincott Company Published February, 1916 Printed by J. B. Lippincott Company at the Washington Square Press Philadelphia, U. S. A. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Miss Lucy Carrington 7 II. A Clash of Tongues 21 III. The Tragedy 36 IV. A Paper Snake 49 V. A Man's Glove 61 VI. A Neighbor's Call 75 VII. The Inquest 90 VIII. Anita's Story 104 IX. Further Testimony 117 X. Bizarre Clues 130 XI. Fleming Stone 144 XII. Estelle's Story 156 XIII. Bates, the Burglar 169 XIV. Who Gave the Poison 182 XV. Pauline's Purchase 195 XVI. The Two Girls 210 XVII. The Overheard Conversation 222 XVIII. Fled! 235 XIX. Letters from the Fugitive 251 XX. In the Boudoir 261 XXI. Fleming Stone's Theory 274 XXII. Pauline in Cairo 289 XXIII. Two Wills 302 XXIV. Confession 314 THE CURVED BLADES I MISS LUCY CARRINGTON