“Yes, sir! Oh, Mr. Stone, I knew you’d see it!”
“Boy, you are a wonder. Even if your deductions are all wrong, you have shown marvelous acumen.”
Fibsy had no idea what acumen was, nor did he care. He was not seeking praise, but corroboration, and he was getting it. The mark of a cane was perfectly clear and was unmistakable. It might mean nothing, but it was a cane mark, and some canes were murderous weapons.
“You have seeing eyes, child,” said Stone, and Fibsy desired no greater commendation.
CHAPTER XXI
STONE’S QUESTIONS
“Now,” went on Stone, “I’m going to begin at the beginning of this thing and I propose to take you along with me.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll help,” and Fibsy settled back in his seat in the taxicab without a trace of presumption or forwardness on his freckled face or in his blue, ‘seeing’ eyes.
The beginning seemed to be at police headquarters and the two went in there.
Inspector Collins was interviewed as to the message that brought to him the first news of the murder.
He patiently retold the story, now old to him, and Stone questioned him as to the woman’s voice.