But to creep up behind her victim--it was inconceivable! Yet there had been no struggle.

Even the automatic on the floor gave no evidence of that.

Kent picked it up.

He looked at it closely, and again the unconscious cry of despair came in a half groan from his lips.

For on the butt of the Colt was a stain of blood and a few gray hairs.
Kedsty had been stunned by a blow from his own gun! As Kent placed it on the table, his eyes caught suddenly a gleam of steel under the edge of a newspaper, and he drew out from their hiding-place the long-bladed clipping scissors which Kedsty had used in the preparation of his scrap-books and official reports.