“The afternoon papers to-morrow—to-day, rather—will teem with this greatest of all recent mysteries, and whatever conclusions the local police draw from what they find, there will be the statement that at least three men entered the house. I want the murderer to see that, and read it.â€�
“And also to fail to find any mention of the letter, eh?�
“Precisely. I want to puzzle him, and worry him. So much for that. Here we are at the station. Go on in, Chick, and get through with it as quickly as possible.�
Chick was gone only two or three minutes, and he returned with a half smile on his face.
“Well?� asked the detective, as they started to drive on.
“The information that there were tracks in the snow, showing that men had passed in and out of the grounds over there to-night, was like an electric shock to that copper,� said Chick. “He asked me if I had examined the tracks, and I truthfully told him that I had not. Then he thanked me and I came out.�
Nick leaned forward in his seat and spoke to Danny.
“I want you to make as good time as you can to the city,� he said. “The snow is a little heavy, I know, but you ought to get there by seven, Danny.�
“Easy, sir,� was the reply.
“When you do, drive directly to the residence of Mr. J. Cephas Lynne. It is on Riverside Drive. Do you know just where it is?�