"Because Zizi found a few new ones in Tracy's room, that had not been used for writing purposes. There were five in a small paper parcel. We have found that he bought these at a shop in the village, buying six at the time. This is merely a shred of evidence, but the fact that Zizi found the pens became known to Mr. Tracy, in fact he caught her searching his room. It was this that made him try to do away with the child." "Tracy? Do away with Zizi!" exclaimed Braye. "Why, he was gone away from here, then." "No. He had left the house, but he was lurking about, and after all had retired that night, he came through the revolving column, and kidnapped Zizi, and threw her into the lake,--as he had previously thrown in the body of Vernie Reid. That, he did, lest the scratch on her arm be discovered by the doctors, and he be suspected." "Then it was Tracy who discovered the secret of the revolving column," said Braye, thoughtfully. "You take a great deal for granted, Mr. Wise." "I take nothing for granted, save what the facts prove, Mr. Braye. That Tracy used the revolving column is positive. Do you not all remember the night when Professor Hardwick saw the apparition of the Shawled Woman? On that night Mr. Tracy was supposed to be in Boston. As a matter of fact, he was not, he had left the house, saying he was going to Boston but he remained in hiding near the house, played ghost, and _then_ went on his way." "I was in New York that night," said Braye, musingly. "But, look here, Mr. Wise, one afternoon, about dusk, Miss Cameron and I distinctly saw the apparition of the Shawled Woman in the Room with the Tassels when we ourselves were out of doors. We saw it through the window,--don't you remember, Norma?" "I do,----" "Then that was Mr. Tracy's doings also," declared Wise. "How simple for him to get the paraphernalia from the column, where it was always in readiness, make his appearance to frighten you two, and then return the shawl and so forth before you could enter and catch him." "It would have been possible," agreed Braye, and then Hardwick began. "There were many other strange things to be accounted for, such as moanings and rustlings in the morning at four o'clock, and also occasional odours of prussic acid, without apparent reason." "Lay them all to Tracy," said Wise, "you won't be far out. Now, who was running that Ouija board the night it said the two people would die at four o'clock?" "Vernie and Mr. Tracy," said Norma, "but when it said that, Mr. Tracy took his hands off and said he would have no more to do with it. He said he believed Vernie pushed it to those letters." "He was a good actor," said Wise, looking grave and sighing; "he fooled you all, it would seem." "He certainly fooled me, good and plenty," said Braye, angrily. "You say you have him in custody, Mr. Wise?"