Mr. Shaw made no reply, but turned to Ned with a smile.
“Go ahead, Ned,” Frank cried. “We all want to know what ideas are brooding in that clever brain of yours.”
“I would like to ask,” Ned began, modestly, “if you can assign a reason for the attack upon you.”
“Why, they came into the house after the emerald necklace,” was the reply. “They looked here for it first. That is all.”
“But it appears that they knew the necklace to be in Frank’s safe,” urged Ned. “At least it did not take them long to find it there after the safe was unlocked and he was brought from his room.”
“Oh, well, they probably looked here first,” insisted the editor. “The manner in which they rummaged the place while I was unconscious shows that they searched for it here. The necklace was the thing sought, of course.”
“Did they take anything from the room?” asked Ned, and Lieutenant Gordon leaned forward, anxiously awaiting the answer.
“Not a thing,” was the quiet reply. “At least, I have missed nothing.”
“Perhaps the thing they sought was not found,” suggested Gordon, no longer able to keep the plot subject out of the conversation.
“I know what you mean, Lieutenant,” the other replied, “and I may as well tell you now that the papers to which you refer are not in the house—were not here and never have been here. They are perfectly safe, and we will drop them from the case, if you please.”