“Well, they used to saturate some cloth or old clothes with the other acid, and throw them about. Then, when the time came they threw a little bottle like that, filled with acid, and with only a paper stopper, in among the clothes. The acid slowly ate out the paper stopper, and then the two acids caused combustion. So, by the time the fire started, the man who was responsible for it was far away from the scene.”
“Whew! And you think that happened here?”
“There’s the bottle. The fire began in Mr. Appleby’s car. Two coats and a rug were burned—now, mightn’t they have been sprinkled with the other acid——”
“Of course that’s what happened! Why haven’t you told this before?”
“I only found the bottle this morning. It had been kicked under a bench, and the sweeper found it. Then I fell a-thinking, for it’s the very same sort of bottle I saw used over there. Somebody who knew that trick did it.”
“And whoever did it is either Mr. Appleby’s murderer, or an accomplice.”
“You think the two crimes are connected, then?”
“Haven’t a doubt of it. You’re a clever chap, Fulton, to dope this out——”
“Well, there was no other explanation. Anything else hinted at carelessness of my management of this place, and that hurt my pride, for I like to think this garage the pink of perfection as to cleanliness and order.”
“Mr. Wheeler is fortunate in having such a man as you. Now, one more thing, Fulton; where is Rachel?”