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happened to be in his grasp, exactly, I might say, as a snake might strike, even though it possessed no fangs. As a crime, it is somewhat unusual and presented mysteries not readily solved by ordinary means. As a study in psychology it has proved most interesting. Also, it has afforded me most desirable opportunities for proving my theories, and also for recording the racial peculiarities of the much-mixed natives of Surinam."
    Rather pleased with himself, Dr. Thane was preparing to dismiss the case as closed, although still looking forward with anticipation to the day when the murderer would return as he had prophesied.
    But he was destined to receive another surprise. Captain Atwood viewed the body and at once declared that it was not that of Peter Underdunk.
    "No more like Underdunk than I am," he stated. "Underdunk was as gray as a badger and had a heavy mustache."
    "But my dear Captain Atwood," protested Dr. Thane, "Captain Scarsdale was equally certain it is the body of Underdunk, and his description of the latter was quite at variance with yours."
    "Naturally," explained the Atlantic Company's superintendent. "He hadn't seen Underdunk for six years. A man changes a lot in that time, especially at Underdunk's time of life. But if you doubt me, look on the dead man's shoulder. Underdunk had a peculiar double mole, a sort of dumb-bell-shaped mark."
    "Which shoulder?" asked the scientist, as he approached the body.
    "Left," replied Captain Atwood. "Close to the collar bone."
    Dr. Thane bared the neck and shoulders of the corpse.
    "By Judas!" exclaimed the other. ''That stab's right where the mole should be."
    "Then we are no better off than before," declared Detective Haley. "It's the same old story—one fellow swears it's Underdunk, and the next swears it's not."
    ''But if Captain Atwood is correct, where is Underdunk!" demanded the scientist, who was loath to admit that the body might be that of someone else, and that his hypothesis had been built on false premises.
    "Search me," replied Captain Atwood. "He got through with us three months ago. Said he was going on a vacation. Likely as not he went down to Surinam."
    So, once again, the mystery seemed as deep as ever. Dr. Thane insisted the body was that of Underdunk, while the detective declared that there was just as good proof that it was not. And. incredible as it may seem, though the police used every effort to locate friends or acquaintances of the ex-sailor from Surinam, and found a number of them, yet, like the two sea captains, some vowed it was, and others insisted it was not Underdunk, whose body reposed in the morgue. The presence of the unusual mole appeared to be the only positive means of identification, and that, if it had existed on the dead man, had been utterly destroyed by the blow which had killed him.
    Thus matters stood when Dr. Thane was once more summoned by Detective Haley.
    As the scientist entered the detective's office, a man who stood with his back toward the door, turned.
    And at sight of his face, Dr. Thane, matter-of-fact scientist though he was, felt a strange sensation, a psychological condition absolutely new to him.
    There, alive and apparently in excellent health, sat the counterpart of the dead man in the morgue.
    "Don't wonder you got a jolt. Doctor," grinned the detective. "I did myself when Mr. Underdunk walked in here."
    "Then—then—" stammered the scientist.
    "Yep," interrupted the detective. "Captain Scarsdale was wrong. This is the missing Peter Underdunk. He has just arrived from a visit to his native land. Quite alive, as you see. If you doubt his identity he will gladly show you the dumb-bell-shaped mole that Captain Atwood mentioned."
    But Dr. Thane did not question the matter. His first surprise over, he realized that after all the living Peter Underdunk was not the perfect double of the dead man. His features, eyes, build and general appearance were the same, and no doubt a few years previously the