Front matter

BY

NATALIE SUMNER LINCOLN

AUTHOR OF “THE RED SEAL,” “THE UNSEEN EAR,” “THE TREVOR CASE,” “THE MOVING FINGER,” ETC.

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY NEW YORK :: 1922 :: LONDON

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY Copyright, 1922, by Street and Smith PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

By NATALIE SUMNER LINCOLN

THE CAT’S PAW THE UNSEEN EAR THE THREE STRINGS THE MOVING FINGER THE NAMELESS MAN THE OFFICIAL CHAPERON THE LOST DESPATCH THE RED SEAL I SPY C. O. D. THE MAN INSIDE THE TREVOR CASE

DROPPING THE CAT, SHE SPRANG TO HER FEET WITH A SLIGHT CRY

[page 27]

TO EDNA LEIGHTON TYLER THIS YARN IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED IN TOKEN OF A FAITHFUL FRIENDSHIP

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Kitty! 1

II. The Summons 6

III. Details 17

IV. Suicide? 35

V. At the Morgue 52

VI. Testimony 63

VII. Mrs. Parsons Has Callers 79

VIII. The Case of the Gila Monster 94

IX. Mrs. Parsons Asks Questions 116

X. Rumors 127

XI. I. O. U. 139

XII. A Word of Warning 155

XIII. Bribery 169

XIV. And Corruption 185

XV. Bound in Red Tape 203

XVI. A Startling Encounter 215

XVII. “K. B.” 223

XVIII. Elusive Clues 239

XIX. Suspicion 252

XX. The Feet of the Furtive 260

XXI. Mouchette, the Seven-Toed 270

XXII. Greed 287

THE CAT’S PAW