For reply the detective placed his finger upon a name that was written in the letter.
"Imogene Dare?" exclaimed Mr. Ferris, astonished.
"She herself," proclaimed the self-satisfied detective.
"What makes you think that?" the District Attorney slowly asked.
"Because I have seen her writing, and studied her signature, and, ably as she has disguised her hand in the rest of the letter, it betrays itself in her name. See here." And Hickory took from his pocket-book a small slip of paper containing her autograph, and submitted it to the test of comparison.
The similarity between the two signatures was evident, and both Mr. Byrd and Mr. Ferris were obliged to allow the detective might be right, though the admission opened up suggestions of the most formidable character.
"It is a turn for which I am not prepared," declared the District Attorney.
"It is a turn for which we are not prepared," repeated Mr. Byrd, with a controlling look at Hickory.
"Let us, then, defer further consideration of the matter till I have had an opportunity to see Miss Dare," suggested Mr. Ferris.
And the two detectives were very glad to acquiesce in this, for they were as much astonished as he at this action of Miss Dare, though, with their better knowledge of her feelings, they found it comparatively easy to understand how her remorse and the great anxiety she doubtless felt for Mr. Hildreth had sufficed to drive her to such an extreme and desperate measure.