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ur intelligence。 We found hairs of the jaguar's pelt on Teresa Delgado。 We found the broken tip of its claw imbedded in Conchita Contreras' throat。 We have found prints similar to this one on the ground about all of them。 The laboratory has even found traces of bloodpoison germs in their lacerations； such as these carnivorous animals are known to carry about imbedded in their claws。 Do we have to sit the thing upright in your lap to get you to agree to its existence！〃
〃Man alive！〃 the American burst Out exasperatedly。 〃There are signs all around you； big as life； and you won't take the trouble to see them； you're so dazzled by that Crusoe…like footprint of yours！ I don't even carry a badge； but I can see them； why can't you？ For instance； look at that broken sprig there； bent down at right angles。 That says what； to you gente？ 〃
Robles curled his lips disdainfully at the naпvetй of such a question。 〃It was swept aside and dislocated by the passage of the jaguar。〃
〃Ah。 And what was the jaguar doing； walking upright on its hind legs？〃 snarled Manning。 〃One of you stand over there alongside of it。 Any one of you； it doesn't matter which。 These ferns all around underfoot make the actual ground level bard to establish。〃
He fairly yelped his satisfaction when the parison had been effected。 〃Look at that！ It's even better than I thought。 There's a depression there under the ferns； a trough in the ground！ Your man's a five…and…half…footer and that dangling sprig is at the level of his shoulder。 What a twostory jaguar that must be； to have broken it up there at that height！〃
If he expected this to hold them； he was sadly mistaken。 Robles didn't even pay him the pliment of having to think twice； faltering for an instant before he came back at him。 〃Y que？〃 he drawled。 〃Must it follow the contour of the ground？ Is it a worm or snake？ It wasn't crawling flat on its belly。 Those two girls were in full flight and it was leaping headlong after them。 What does any quadruped do in such a case？ It vaulted over this hollow in the ground； its arched back swept that sprig aside； broke it。〃
Manning flung the undersides of his hands toward him。 〃You can have your jaguar！ You're wele to it。〃 He took a few steps away； stopped long enough to deliver a parting shot。 〃Just trace its movements for a second。 From the Callejуn de las Sombras； where it originally disappeared； around to the Pasaje del Diablo； in the working。 class quarter。 From there； all the way around again to All Saints Cemetery on the southern outskirts of town。 From there all the way across the city to the corner of Justicia and San Marco。 And from there； back once more to the Bosque； here on the north side。 All without being seen once！ Here's another thing。 All its victims have been women。 Not old； not even middle…aged； but all young girls。 That's a very precocious jaguar； caballeros。 It seems to specialize。〃 He turned his back on them with finality。 〃But there's no use talking to you。 It's just a waste of good breath。 I'm going home。〃
〃I'm sure we'll be practically helpless without you；〃 Robles called after him sarcastically。
VI。 Black Alibi
Manning at sight suspected some of the luggage of being hers when he stepped into the Inglaterra from the street。 It was in the center of the tiled patio； and a glimpse of a red 〃M K〃 on the corner of one of the pieces confirmed his suspicion。 There seemed to be； however； an unusual amount of it； and more was being added to it every time the creaking lift came down。
He went over to the desk。 〃Is that the americana； the one whose friend…？〃
〃She and everyone else； seсor；〃 the clerk said dolefully。 〃We are being emptied like the…how you say？…epidemic is here。 Twenty…three rooms in last two hours…〃
Manning was only interested in one of the twenty…three check…outs。 〃Hpw soon is she leaving； do you know？〃
〃She take the Santa Emilia from Val； on Tuesday。〃 He shrugged pessimistically。 〃She cannot be blamed； seсor； no？〃
〃No；〃 Manning agreed； lowering his head； 〃she cannot be blamed。 I guess I'd go； too。〃 He took out a cigarette； looked down at it thoughtfully without using it。 Then he looked up again。 〃I wonder if she'll see me。〃
〃I try； seсor。 Whose name shall I say？〃
She probably wouldn't remember his name； from amidst all that horror the other night。 She wouldn't have salvaged it。 He gave it anyway。
〃Mees Keeng； is Mister Manning here to see ju。〃 The clerk nodded。 〃The twenty…four； seсor； on secon' floor。〃
Manning took the stairs。 The lift was still busy disgorging luggage at every down trip。 As the clerk had said； there seemed to be a mass exodus on。
In fact； as he passed the open transom of a door on the second…floor corridor； he overheard an unmistakably American voice； feminine； saying to someone： 〃I don't care； Harvey Williams； business deal or no business deal； I will not spend another night in this city with that thing prowling around loose！ You can sign those papers just as well down on the coast while we're waiting for the ship to sail…〃
Yes； the panic was on。
Manning knocked on 24。 Her voice said； 〃e in。〃
She was in the middle of finishing packing her smaller pieces； the hand luggage。 Three or four of them were ranged around her。 She was in a white corduroy wrapper； tiny at the waist； spreading at the floor。 She looked as though she hadn't slept since that night； and he glimpsed several small bottles of nerve tablets or sedative ranged on the stand beside her bed。
Pallor and the darkness about her eyes only made her more beautiful。 You had to be as young as she； he told himself； to suffer and still turn out looking beautiful。 When you got to be a few years older； and suffered； it just made you haggard。
The first thought that crossed his mind； before he'd even opened his mouth to her； was： 〃What made me e here？ I had no right to。 I should have stayed away and let her alone。〃
〃You don't remember me；〃 he said tactfully。 〃I'm the fellow…well； I was with them the other night。〃
〃Oh；〃 she said。 Even the recollection still made her wince。 〃I thought it was somebody from the Express； about my reservation and tickets。 No；〃 she admitted； 〃I don't remember you。〃
〃I really had no right to intrude like this；〃 he murmured tactfully。
〃No； it's all right。 I'm all alone here and…it's nice to have someone to talk to in your own language。〃 She was not only sincere； she was almost pathetically grateful。 〃I was in bed all day yesterday。 I only got up today because I had to…to plete the necessary arrangements for poor Sally。〃 Her voice shook a little when she pronounced the name。 〃Sit down； Mr。 Manning。〃 She removed a small fitted toilet case from the seat of a chair。
〃Won't I be in your way？〃
〃Most of my heavy packing is finished。 I'm taking the night train down； that doesn't leave until ten； I understand。 There's plenty of time…as long as I make sure I get out of this place。〃 A look of unspeakable revulsion flitted across her face。 〃As long as I make sure I get out of this place！〃 Her intensity made her almost wild…eyed。
〃I can understand how you feel；〃 he said sympathetically。
〃It's bee