"Well, you are smart, Hal, there is no denying that. What is your opinion of the marks?"
"I think they were only a blind."
"Put there to form a wrong impression?"
"Exactly, sir. That robbery was committed by somebody who came in through the office, and who knew the combination of the safe."
"Possibly. But that doesn't fasten the crime on Hardwick."
"It does not. But I look at it in this light. As one of the detectives said, it is possible that somebody stood outside of the rear window and saw you work the combination, but I doubt very much if they could learn the process in that way. There is a glare of light on the window that renders it very difficult to see at all."
"Yes, but——"
"Now wait a moment, please," Hal was growing enthusiastic. "Do you keep the combination written down anywhere?"
"I do not. I gave it to my daughter, Laura, in case something happened to me, and I suppose she has it down, but I do not know."
"Then it isn't likely any one could get the combination unless they watched you?"