chair. David Ellsworth returned, and halted before Billy Kane’s chair. “No, I am not in my second childhood, Billy,” he said quietly. “That letter was certainly not written without a purpose; and yet from every angle that I have been able to view it, except one, it would have been exactly that—without purpose. I believe it is the first step in a carefully laid plan that will divert, or fix, suspicion upon you.” “No, I am not in my second childhood, Billy,” he said quietly. “That letter was certainly not written without a purpose; and yet from every angle that I have been able to view it, except one, it would have been exactly that—without purpose. I believe it is the first step in a carefully laid plan that will divert, or fix, suspicion upon you.” Billy Kane shook his head in perplexity. Billy Kane shook his head in perplexity. “A plan?” he repeated. “I don’t understand.” “A plan?” he repeated. “I don’t understand.” David Ellsworth’s only reply was to jerk his head significantly toward the other of the two doors at the end of the room. David Ellsworth’s only reply was to jerk his head significantly toward the other of the two doors at the end of the room. Mechanically Billy Kane followed the direction of the gesture with his eyes; and then he was on his feet, his face suddenly grim and set. Mechanically Billy Kane followed the direction of the gesture with his eyes; and then he was on his feet, his face suddenly grim and set. “My God!” he murmured under his breath. “You mean——” “My God!” he murmured under his breath. “You mean——” “Yes,” said David Ellsworth evenly. “Why not? I couldn’t tell you myself exactly how much those stones in there are worth, but they are ranked as one of the most valuable single collections of rubies in existence, and certainly the figures would run somewhere between two and three hundred thousand dollars. Besides, there’s always a little cash there—you know better than I do precisely how much at the present moment.” “Yes,” said David Ellsworth
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