"Unless you have lost your mind, Ferret," he said, "this note is significant. It means that there is a menace — close by. It means that someone has entered here!"
"How much do you think he knows?" questioned Major anxiously.
"Very little," replied Judge sagely. "If he knew much, he would not reveal himself. He wants to make it appear that he knows more. He has tried to work on Ferret as a starter. He has too much to learn.
"However, we may expect danger, tonight. Be ready for it. Be sure, when you come, that there is no one hidden here. Use every precaution — at both ends. Tell Deacon, Major.
"I shall be at Harvey Bronlon's. I am relying upon you three — and Deacon. If any of you should suspect anything, be sure and let me know before it is too late.
"I think I see the scheme in back of this. Some man — the one who calls himself The Shadow — wants to worry us!"
"He has worried me," asserted Major. "He's started me thinking, Judge. I'm going to come out with it straight. I'm not accusing Ferret of a double cross. All I think is that Ferret has been making some slip. If he has, let him talk right now!"
A shrewd gleam came into Ferret's eyes.
"Look here, Judge," he said. "I see it different. There's only five of us know this lay. All right. I get a phony note. It's got me fooled. You saw that when I read it. I swear I read what I told you.
"Who sent that note? Well, if you want to know what's right in my mind now, I'll tell you. There's four people who might have left it where I'd find it. I'm not accusing anybody, either. I'm just telling you what might be."