I can't leave her. If I do, she will hand everything she's got to Rajah Brahman."
"Not if you're watching, she won't," commented Slade. "If she's falling for the rajah's game, the best stunt you can do is try to crimp him before it is too late!"
"You're right," agreed Dick.
"WHY not let your aunt think you have gone back to Texas?" questioned Slade suavely. "She'll tell the rajah that you've left town. He will become bolder then — and you will be watching without his knowing it!"
"Good idea!" said Dick. "I'll leave a note in her hotel. We can go by there to-night." He fumbled in his pocket and produced a folded sheet of writing paper. Slade was ready with a fountain pen. Dick scrawled these lines:
Dear Aunt Maude: I have gone back to Texas. I am tired of this foolish waiting to hear what this fake rajah has to say. Take my advice and forget about him. If you don't hear from me again, you can send my trunk to San Antonio when you leave New York.
Signing his name, Dick sought an envelope. He had none, but Martin Slade provided one.
It happened to bear the name of a Washington hotel in its upper corner, but Dick paid no attention to that, as he wrote the name of his aunt and her hotel. He sealed the envelope and dropped it on the table. Slade tapped the fake watch which Dick had handed to him.
"You say that you found this in the seance room?"
"I found it in my pocket," said Dick. "You know, I was just about ready to believe that faker was real. He had been doing some pretty clever stuff. Writing on a slate — these spooks coming out — and all that. But when I found this watch, and made out what it was for, then I knew I had the goods on him."