“Or stolen!”
“Stolen?”
“Yes, don’t you see, he had the recipe and he was murdered for it.”
“Oh, don’t go off wild-goose chasing! It might be,—or it might be he was murdered for his watch and chain, which they didn’t take after all,—but we have to have some shred of evidence to go upon.”
“Sure we do. And, therefore, I ask you, where is this recipe?”
“Why, I don’t know,—truly I don’t.”
Wise smiled at her as at a foolish child, but the saucy little brown face looked very sober as she said, seriously: “and you call yourself a detective! Why, Penny-piece of Wisdom, that recipe is the bone of contention. At least, if it isn’t found, it is.”
“And did the women murder him for that?”
“Like as not.”
“Zizi, you’re a smart little girl, but sometimes you don’t see straight. Now, drop the recipe, or consider it by yourself some other time. Your stunt is to interest friend Bates.”