Among the broken fragments of day lay Mrs. Dillon's pearl necklace.
"There's your evidence," Penny said calmly. "I think even Max Lynch may find it difficult to alibi this."
With a fatalistic shrug, the gambler turned to the policeman who guarded him.
"You win," he said. "Buckle on the cuffs and let's go."
"There's something I'd like to learn before you take these men away," Penny mentioned to the captain. "Mr. Hoges has a letter in his possession which I wish I might examine."
"Is this the one you mean?" the officer asked. The envelope he indicated had been taken from Hoges when he was searched a few minutes before.
"I think it is."
The policeman handed Penny the letter and he quickly examined it.
"This is the right one," she said in relief. "And it exonerates Amy Coulter of any wrong doing."
The brief message read: