DEEP LAKE MYSTERY By CAROLYN WELLS Author _of_ “The Crime in the Crypt,” “All At Sea,” “Anything But the Truth,” “The Bronze Hand,” “The Daughter of the House,” “Face Cards,” “Feathers Left Around,” “The Fourteenth Key,” “The Furthest Fury,” “Prillilgirl,” “The Red-Haired Girl,” “The Vanity Case,” “Where’s Emily,” etc. A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York Published by arrangement with Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc. Printed in U. S. A. COPYRIGHT, 1928, BY DOUBLEDAY, DORAN & COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N.Y. TO MY DEAR FRIEND LUCY C. JOYCE CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. “A STATELY PLEASURE DOME ...” 1 II. THE GIRL IN THE CANOE 16 III. THE TRAGEDY 32 IV. THE NAIL 48 V. THE LADY OF THE LAKE 63 VI. THE WATCH IN THE WATER PITCHER 78 VII. THE INQUEST 93 VIII. ALMA’S STATEMENTS 108 IX. CLUES 123 X. DISCUSSION 138 XI. EVIDENCE 153 XII. MY SECRET 168 XIII. AS TO TUESDAY AFTERNOON 183 XIV. POSY MAY 198 XV. JENNIE 213 XVI. WHISTLING REEDS 228 XVII. AMES TAKES A HAND 244 XVIII. ALL RIGHT AT LAST 260 DEEP LAKE MYSTERY CHAPTER I “A STATELY PLEASURE DOME ...” As I look back on my life, eventful enough in spots, but placid, even monotonous in the long stretches between spots, I think the greatest thrill I ever experienced was when I saw the dead body of Sampson Tracy. Imagine to yourself a man, dead in his own bed, with no sign of violence or maltreatment. Eyes partly closed, as he might be peacefully thinking, and no expression of fear or horror on his calm face.