“How did you know, then, that we were being held in the cellar of the empty house?” asked Paul.
“You see, the gang had a room in the hotel. And I had a room next door. And when Joe came and told Moonshine Charlie of holding you prisoners, I rushed down and freed you.”
“That’s plenty funny,” commented Jack. “If it was not you whom I was following all the time, who then was it?”
“That is something I should like to know myself,” replied the agent.
“Another thing, Mr. Wilson,” said Paul. “Four days ago, I followed Harriman. On the street, I noticed you—or was it you—passing him and you nodded to each other. Now was it you or was it not you?”
“No, it could not have been me,” was the answer, “because I remember distinctly that I was at the hotel at the time listening in on Moonshine and his gang.”
“That’s right,” continued Paul. “Harriman did lead me to Main Street where he met Moonshine, Joe and Pete. But if it was not you who nodded to Harriman, then I am more convinced than ever that there is a man in this town who looks very much like you. In fact he looks so much like you that even Harriman mistook him for you.”
“Now that is very interesting,” Mr. Wilson said. “We will have to do something about it.”
“But here is something that is very suspicious, Mr. Wilson,” Paul said. “You say that at the time you were at the hotel, but you or the person that looks like you, walked out of the corner house, that is, Harriman’s house, only about fifteen minutes before the grocery store keeper himself came out. How do you figure that out?”
“You have me puzzled, Paul, if that was the case. I can’t figure it out.”