Captain Johns stopped short. He gazed at Flash intently.
“Albert Povy no longer interests me,” he said. “The man is dead.”
“You are wrong, sir. Povy never was killed in the train wreck. I have proof of it.”
“Impossible! It happens that Major Hartgrove and I came here this morning to investigate that very thing. Povy is buried in a cemetery at Clear Lake. I visited the grave myself.”
“It couldn’t have been Povy’s grave. The man still lives.”
Captain Johns grasped Flash by the arm.
“Come back into the lobby with me, young man,” he urged. “If your information should be correct it will prove of vital importance to us!”
Flash sank into a chair beside the captain. He offered the picture of Povy and told where he had obtained it.
“But do you realize what you are saying?” the Captain demanded in amazement. “You are accusing Herbert Rascomb of living a dual life!”
“Rascomb and Povy are the same person,” Flash insisted. “For years the man has been living a double existence. As Rascomb he’s acted the part of a wealthy, upstanding citizen. As Povy—well, I don’t know much about his past.”