“It appears probable, too, that the chauffeur is one of the gang,” Carter added. “Also that we are up against more of a gang than I have suspected. I at first was inclined to attribute the many mysterious robberies here, as well as the killing of Gaston Todd, to a single exceedingly crafty and accomplished crook. I now believe, however, that he is the chief director of a gang, instead of at work alone.”
“That must be right, too,” nodded Patsy. “There’s no getting around it.”
“But here’s another point,” said Carter. “The mysterious killing of Leary’s cat, whatever the motive of it, and the similar strangeness in connection with the murder of Todd denote that both were committed by the same man or some of his gang.”
“That’s how I size it up.”
“You are sure, however, that neither of the men at the road house was Doctor Devoll,” Nick continued. “I may in that case be mistaken in thinking he is the man behind the gun, the evil genius back of the whole business. There may be another, and Doctor Devoll only indirectly associated with him.”
“You mean the elderly man who took Doctor Devoll’s place in the motor car?”
“Exactly.”
“Devoll may have sent him out to the road house to meet that other fellow,” Patsy suggested.
“Possibly,” said Nick. “It is more probable, however, that Devoll informed him of my visit this afternoon and of the threats I made. The other may have become alarmed and set about thwarting my designs. All this appears the more probable, Patsy, because that threatening anonymous letter and all these very, significant episodes have followed so quickly after my call on Doctor Devoll.”
“Right again, chief, as sure as I’m a foot high,” Patsy declared. “It’s long odds, too, that the road-house conference was held only to frame up a job on you.”