“Well, what is it?�
“It isn’t snowing so very hard just now,â€� said Patsy. “Those tracks that we have made in going to the house and coming away from it, while they will be covered, will not be entirely obliterated—not if six inches of snow should fall over them. There would still be the indications of footprints in the snow; of the ones we left there, eh?â€�
“Sure,� said the detective. “You’re on, Patsy.�
“You had more reasons than one in taking us back to the house with you, chief,� the second assistant continued. “You wanted to leave those tracks, didn’t you?�
“I’ll confess that I did, Patsy.�
“Just to mystify—who?â€�
“Who should you say, Patsy?�
“Well, the first thought would be that you preferred to mystify the police, than to tell these local chaps all you know; but there is more, isn’t there?�
“Yes; there is much more; but in order to accomplish it I am compelled to mystify the local authorities—until they have made their first report on the matter; after that I will be glad to take them into our confidence.â€�
“In other words,� said Chick, “you want to puzzle the murderer himself, but you want the local police out here to do it for you.�