“It was to solve Austin’s reason for opening your safe, Father, that caused me to search it this afternoon in hopes of finding a clew,” she said.
“Where did you get the combination?”
“From your playing card,” she explained. “I knew your absent-minded habits and recalled seeing some pin scratches on the Knave of Hearts which, by the way, I picked up in this library Friday night and later placed on top of my husband’s pack, thinking, as the back of the cards were similar, it belonged to him. So this afternoon after Dr. McLane left I could not rest, the card recurred to me, and I searched my husband’s pack. Not finding it, I went to your den and discovered it among your papers. I had just opened the safe when Maud”—catching herself up—“that man, blindfolded me.”
“And what induced you to tempt providence again, Turner?” demanded Ferguson turning to his prisoner. “You might have escaped detection but for that.”
“Perhaps,” was the sullen answer. “I knew Mr. Hale had deposited negotiable bonds and a large sum of money there over Sunday—”
Judith interrupted him with an exclamation. “Did you steal my Valve bonds on Tuesday night?”
Turner nodded. “It was all I did get.” His bitter chuckle was brief. “I was well scared after the murder but I dared not bolt for fear of centering suspicion upon me, and then I had no money. I nosed around everywhere looking for something I could steal to raise ready cash. I was afraid to dispose of Miss Judith’s bonds because it might have been traced to me. In my search I found Miss Polly had brought some bonds in an envelope and when she was with Mrs. Hale I sneaked it out.”
“You did?” Polly looked at him in round-eyed surprise. “But I found the bonds there.”
“Sure you did,” again Turner chuckled, “but they weren’t your Valve bonds, but Miss Judith’s. I noticed they were the same, so I substituted hers in your envelope, knowing that I could sell yours without danger of the numbers’ being traced to Austin’s murder.”
“But—but,” Polly turned in perplexity to Richards. “Then the Valve bonds I asked you to sell for me Friday afternoon were Judith’s?”