"There was a woman," I persisted, "and what is more, Wardrop, at this minute you believe she took your Russia leather bag and left a substitute."
He fell into the trap.
"But she couldn't," he quavered. "I've thought until my brain is going, and I don't see how she could have done it."
He became sullen when he saw what he had done, refused any more information, and left almost immediately.
Fred came soon after, and in the meantime I had made some notes like this:
1. Examine warehouse and yard.
2. Attempt to trace Carter.
3. See station agent at Bellwood.
4. Inquire Wardrop's immediate past.
5. Take Wardrop to Doctor Anderson, the specialist.