“Yes. And when Adelaide Ditmar got that threat I was positive Frazier was responsible. He wanted the business, and he was doing everything he could to get it. But even then I had no proof.”
“So what did you do?” asked Max. “And why did Tom Adams suspect that you knew anything?”
“It was all because of this conversation,” answered Mary Louise, opening her notebook. “I overheard it near Frazier’s garage, and then I was stupid enough to let them see me. I even told them I was going over to the farm to talk to Hattie.”
“That was a mistake,” remarked Mr. Gay.
“A mistake I paid for pretty dearly,” agreed the girl. “But it’s all right now, so it really doesn’t matter.... Now let me read you the conversation between Frazier and Tom Adams on the afternoon I was taken away.”
Quickly, in the words of the two men, she read to her listeners of Tom’s demand for money and Mr. Frazier’s reluctant compliance with his claims. When she had finished she looked eagerly at her father.
“Isn’t Frazier guilty?” she asked.
“Of course he’s guilty,” agreed the detective. “But he won’t ever admit it. He’ll squirm out of it, because we haven’t got proof in so many words. He’ll say he was talking about something entirely different to Tom Adams.”
“But can’t he be arrested?” persisted Mary Louise, a note of disappointment creeping into her voice.
“I don’t see how—until we find Tom Adams. He’ll establish Frazier’s guilt, all right. I can’t see Adams shouldering the blame alone.”