"I was reading the old man's letter," replied Ferret.

"Why read it? You've got it, haven't you?"

"Part of it."

Butcher stopped with a low ejaculation.

"What! You left some of it—"

"I brought the first page with me," said Ferret calmly. "There were two pages. I left the second."

"We can't go back!" growled Butcher angrily. "Now you've done it, Ferret!"

"Yes, I've done it!" said the crafty slayer. "I've left a paper with Delmar's own signature — in his writing saying that he was going to bump himself off!"

Butcher's growl turned to a gasp of admiration.

"You did that, Ferret?"