“From Jerry Middleton!” whispered Cardona.
The lawyer nodded.
“You’re sure it’s actually his handwriting?”
Blefken nodded.
“I happened to have a letter from Middleton,” he replied. “It was in connection with a legal case, and I looked in the file. I don’t think that any one but myself would have recalled the fact that the old letter was here in the office.
“The signature is genuine; what is more, it is signed ‘Gerald Middleton’ — and the man is usually spoken of as ‘Jerry Middleton.’ So much so, in fact, that I was surprised to see the signature in this form, and was anxious to check with the other letter!”
“You know Middleton?” Cardona questioned.
“No. I think perhaps I have met him. That is all.”
“That accounts for the signature.”
There was silence as Cardona read the letter. Then, as though forgetting that Blefken had also perused it, the detective read the message in a low voice that was scarcely audible: