Vincent called at five o’clock. Followed Berger last night. Left him at theater. Followed man who had been trailing Berger. Was lured to place known as Pink Rat. Learned name of man whom he followed. Volovick. Vincent attacked by Volovick and gang. Rescued by a girl who helped him hide in secret compartment behind the wall of room. Girl disappeared. Vincent opened panel of wall by accident. Escaped through aid of an unknown man who fought Volovick and his gang. Vincent received a letter to-day. Forwarded it unopened. Letter inclosed herewith. Vincent also met girl again. She was with Bruce Duncan. Has known Duncan only a few days. Her name is Arlette DeLand. Pretended she did not recognize Vincent. She lives at Hotel Paragon. Data regarding Whitburn difficult to obtain. Have located several Whitburns. Professor Arthur Whitburn seems most probable. Formerly head of engineering department, Hornell University. Now retired. Lived on island in Lake Marrinack, Connecticut. Have traced inclosed advertisement to him.
A clipping lay on the table. The hands raised the slip of newspaper, which had been cut from the Morning Sphere. It read as follows:
WANTED: Young Man, single, college graduate, to assist in experimental work. State qualifications, age, et cetera. A. W., care of Sphere.
The moving hands discarded the newspaper clipping. Then they turned to another task. They lifted the envelope which Harry Vincent had received in the morning mail. It was addressed in the writing of Stanley Berger.
Slowly the hands opened the envelope, and spread the letter upon the table.
For two full minutes the hands remained motionless. The fire opal, glimmering beneath the brilliant light, sparkled as though it were alive; yet it seemed attached to a waxwork hand.
The message written by Stanley Berger was perplexing to the mind that was invisible in the surrounding darkness. It was in the suicide’s writing, yet the facts which it stated were not what had been expected.
The simple announcements that Berger was “miserable and unhappy”; that the “shock had left him helpless”; and that when the letter was received he “would be gone” carried no semblance of a murderer’s confession. Instead, these statements were ones which an innocent man might have written.
THE letter dropped to the table. The hand that wore the fire opal picked up the envelope. The fingers of the other hand carefully peeled the stamp from the corner where it was attached.
The envelope was discarded. Producing two sheets of paper, and two pencils, each hand poised as though ready to write. Finally the left hand inscribed these words: