"Advising him not to try to bring Peter Crane's body down to New York, or to postpone the matter, or something like that."
"Queer business, that. Why should anybody want to fake a letter like that?"
"I don't believe anybody did. More likely some one else wrote for the guide. They're an ignorant lot, and writing is an unwelcome task to them."
They were still looking at the guide's letter when Shelby came in.
"I heard you were here," he said, "and thought it would be a good time to come around. I want to see if there's anything in Blair's papers that would help to turn suspicion away from Mac Thorpe. I don't believe that man did it, and I wish we could free him."
"That's what we're after," and Wise made room for Shelby to sit beside him at Blair's desk.
But though they made systematic search of all letters they found none other than friendly. There were some from his mother and sister, pathetic ones, telling of their ill health, for both were invalids.
They had not come East on learning of Blair's death, for they could not well stand the trip, and, too, there was no real reason for their coming. After the police investigation was over Blair's effects were to be sent to them, but for the present everything remained as it was found at his death.
"Let me help you, if I can," Shelby went on to Wise. "You know Blair and I were chums. Poor Gilbert, and Peter Boots, too, both gone, and both by such tragic means. I don't know which death was the worse."
Zizi showed him the small bottle she had found, and asked his opinion of her theory about it.