“He wanted to protect that hiding place behind the radiator — that is evident. So he not only made it difficult to find. He placed the apparatus there, to thwart any man who might come.”
“What about Max Parker?” queried Cardona.
“A cross-purpose,” responded Biscayne. “There might be a connection between Max Parker and Homer Briggs. It seems evident that Parker must have blundered in upon the trap that was laid for others.”
“IF he was an enemy, the old man would have mentioned it,” commented Cardona. “How do you figure that Harshaw worked the big killings? He must have bumped himself off to start.”
“Undoubtedly,” declared Biscayne. “Knowing that he had not long to live, he used his own trap for suicide. But he must have wanted the others to die, too.
“Take Glenn, for instance. The old man was a chemist. Those cigarettes which—”
“I was right,” interrupted Cardona. “Harshaw must have got a couple of packs — we found one in the strong box, here. Then he must have planted it in Glenn’s Tuxedo; that box that Glenn had with him.
“One poisoned cigarette in the box! That’s what did it. I had it right. But how did Harshaw put it there the box — in the Tuxedo—”
“That we may never learn,” replied Biscayne. “We have the motive. We have evidence. That is sufficient for the present.
“Let us consider Thomas Sutton. The old man went to his house, according to the letter. He must have heard Sutton speak about the cane.