"The game's up at last!" he hinnied. "I saw it was you kids, and I couldn't resist giving you a scare. I don't know that I meant to let you find me out, though. If I hadn't tumbled I'd have got off. What have I been masquerading like this for?" He suddenly looked grave. "That's a little business of my own. I wanted to find out something, and I thought I'd raise a rumour that might keep the woods clear of ordinary trespassers. How did I do it? Easy enough, some theatrical togs I had by me, and springs on my heels."
"We've seen you before in this rig-out," volunteered Anthony.
"When?"
"When you pounced on Mr. Hockheimer and stopped him burning a letter."
"We were there watching," echoed David.
"Oh, have you got the paper still? It was mine!" cried Pamela breathlessly.
It was Captain Harper's turn to be astonished.
"Yours! What had it to do with you?" he asked sharply.
Pamela and Avelyn explained between them. He took a cigarette from his pocket and lighted it as he listened.
"This is quite another development," he commented. "Part of the paper was burnt. I couldn't understand the drift of it."