“And you found another such card,” said the chief, interrupting.
“Yes.”
“But that is no evidence; it means nothing,” said the chief. “You can find cards like these everywhere you go, by the dozen.”
“Well, that may be so,” said Paul. “But to us it was evidence, and we figured that the same man committed all the three crimes. And we decided to track him down.”
“Why didn’t you come to us and tell us?” demanded Chief Bates.
Paul was perspiring. He was very tense and he felt that he was being hindered rather than helped. “Well, I don’t know,” he remarked, “I guess we didn’t think of it.”
“Didn’t think of it!” exclaimed the chief.
Jack saw how his friend was suffering and he jumped to his feet and cried, “What difference does all that make? The important thing is that we discovered the gang of counterfeiters and if you don’t act quickly they will escape.”
“I’m sorry for interrupting,” said the chief, somewhat embarrassed. “Go on with your story.”