The conspirators knew that they were watched, and whether this young man whom they seemed to be leading by the nose was the real heir or not, they had been made aware that they would not have it all their own way without investigation by other parties.
It was while they were removing the make-up and costumes they had worn in the characters of the two Howard Milmarshes that Carter and his assistant discussed the probability of this being the actual young Howard, after all.
“The preponderance of evidence is on his side, I must confess,” declared Nick, as he finished dressing in his own clothes, after removing all the grease paint and false hair from his face, as well as the iron-gray wig he had worn as the elder Milmarsh. “He looks like Howard, has the same voice, and certainly fights like him.”
“And yet you can’t quite believe in him?”
“Not quite. If only the Howard Milmarsh who is sick in the Universal Hospital would get well, there would be little trouble in deciding positively whether he or this one who has possession of the place is the true one. It is a curious case—and as puzzling a one as I ever attacked.”
“What are we going to do now?” asked Chick.
“You are right, Chick,” smiled his chief. “That is getting right down to business. Well, I think we’ll go back to the Old Pike Inn and get some sleep. There will be a busy day for us to-morrow.”
“All days are busy—especially since we took up this Howard Milmarsh case,” observed Chick, smiling.
“That’s true. Well, come on, and don’t make a noise as you move along. There are listening ears on the other side of the wall, remember.”