"I know that she had at the time of her dealings with us. That was ten years ago, or so, but then we had the handling of more than a million dollars' worth, and I know she added to her store after that."
"Oh, where are they?" cried Iris forgetting her determination not to discuss this matter here.
"Do you mean to say you don't know?" exclaimed Mr. Reed, astounded.
So Iris told him about the will.
"What an extraordinary tale," he commented as she finished. "I wish I could help you out, I'm sure. Now, no receipt of ours would be of importance in and of itself. It must have had a memorandum scribbled on it, or something of that sort."
"Yes," agreed Iris, thoughtfully, "that must be it. In that case the murderer wanted it because it told where the jewels are hidden."
"And he has already secured them! Oh, no!"
Mr. Reed's interest was so sincere that Iris told him a little more. She told him of the pin, and of her being kidnapped in an attempt to get it.
"You are in danger," Reed said, warningly. "Until they get what they want you will continue to be molested. It isn't the pin—that's too absurd! But they're after something that has to do with the secret of the hiding place of those jewels. On that you may depend."
"But couldn't the pin have some bearing on that?"