And so it came about that after his bath and a breakfast Colonel Ashley, winking mysteriously to Jack Young, indicated to his helper that he was wanted in the library.
“What is it?” asked Jack, when they were alone in the room. “A new clew?”
“No, just a blind trail, but I want to clean it up. Help me move out some of the bookcases.”
“Good night! Some job! Are you looking for a secret passage, or is there a body concealed here?” and Jack laughed as he took hold of some of the heavy furniture and helped the colonel move it.
Not until they had lifted out the third massive case of volumes was their search successful. There was a little thud, as though something had fallen to the floor, and, looking, the colonel said:
“I have it.”
He reached in and brought out a thin volume. Its title page was inscribed “The Poisonous Plants of New Jersey.”
Something was in the book—something more bulky than a mere marker; and, opening the slender volume at page 4, a spray of dried leaves and some thin, whitish roots were disclosed.
“Somebody trying to press wild flowers?” asked Jack. “Why all this trouble for that? Hum! Doesn't smell like violets,” he added, as he picked up the spray of leaves and roots.
“No, it doesn't,” agreed the colonel. “But if you are not a little careful in handling it you'll be a fit subject for a bunch of violets—tied with crepe.”