“You have shown admirable intelligence, Phoebe, and I see you have quickly recognized the important points of your discoveries. With the information you have given me I believe I can put my finger on the identical woman who is responsible for Toby Clark’s tribulations.”
“Oh; can you, sir?” she exclaimed. “Then I must have been very stupid.”
He turned to Judith with his whimsical smile.
“You see, she won’t admit that a rival detective has any talent.”
“Yes, I will,” said Phoebe. “I didn’t mean it that way at all. But I can see no ‘identical’ woman in the case, as yet. A mysterious woman stole the box, and of course it is a member of Dave Hunter’s family—his mother or sister—or perhaps his sweetheart, Hazel Chandler. Which of the three do you mean, sir?”
“None of those,” replied the governor, musingly. “The woman whom I think has been the cause of your friend Toby’s past misfortunes and present danger is—Mrs. Ritchie.”
Both Judith and Phoebe stared at him in amazement.
“Did she steal her own box, then?” said Phoebe.
“No, indeed; but she accused Toby Clark with a purpose, and she intends to get him a long prison sentence—also with a purpose.”
“What purpose, sir?”