“Not a bit! Richardson feels that he’s absolutely sure that such is the case. I’m almost convinced myself. Every clue that we’ve been able to pick up since the Sergeant hit upon this wild theory seems to bear him out. Another thing, there’s the case of Daddy McInnes. The story I told in the trading room an hour ago was an elaboration of or a tampering with the true facts.”
“I don’t think I quite understand.”
“Daddy McInnes was murdered. A blow on the back of the head.”
Dick shivered.
“Naturally, we don’t want anyone to suspect—least of all Nichols—that we know McInnes came to a violent end. That would spoil everything. We never would catch Murky if a breath of this ever leaked out. The abrasion on the back of Daddy’s head caused a little comment, but we took immediate steps to check it.”
“How?” asked Dick.
“We claimed that in his weakened and starved condition, McInnes fainted and fell, his head striking a rock. Everyone believes it now.”
“But why should Nichols—I mean, what motive would he have?”
“Daddy found the pass and came through it. If he had lived, its exact location would have become public property. In that event, Murky Nichols would have been out of a job.”
“But what about Hart and O’Connell? They must know where Blind Man’s Pass is.”