A telephone booth was Bruce Duncan's first stopping place after leaving Tremaine's office. He found the card with Hopkins's number and decided to call the old man.
A woman's voice answered.
"Mr. Hopkins?" questioned Duncan.
"Who is calling?" was the reply.
"Bruce Duncan. Nephew of Mr. Harvey Duncan."
"Oh, Mr. Duncan," came the voice. "He asked for you. Mr. Hopkins died two weeks ago. I thought you had been notified. It was so sudden — a heart attack in the night—"
Duncan speculated on this strange coincidence as he drove homeward. A theory had formed in his mind.
Some one had visited his uncle, and had been left alone with him by Hopkins. In delirium, Harvey Duncan had given the secret which he had intended to retain for his nephew.
Poor Hopkins! Bruce had almost suspected him when he had made the phone call.
Suddenly, a horrible suspicion filled the young man's mind. Perhaps his uncle had been murdered.