During the night he resolved upon the magnanimous course he would adopt, just as Nick had suspected. Next morning, however, when confronted by Badger, he discovered that the latter knew far too much and must be silenced. Hence the interruption of Gerry during their interview led Flood to escape by a secret door, with the intention of afterward seeking Badger, to buy his silence. Not knowing where to find him, however, Flood finally decided to clinch matters by giving himself up to Nick Carter and flatly asserting that he had committed the crime.
While simple enough in a way, Nick’s deductions from the conflicting circumstances were exceedingly clever. The passionate indignation of Flood, when Nick intimated that Royal might be the guilty party, at once convinced the detective that that was Flood’s own opinion. Nick instantly decided, therefore, that Flood must have been at Fordham that night, and very likely had seen Royal in some incriminating situation.
Believing that Royal would lie about the matter if questioned by a detective, Nick decided that he could learn the exact truth by personating Flood for that purpose. Hence the curious and effective ruse he had adopted.
Such, in brief, were the explanations which greatly cleared matters, and the gratitude of Royal for the heroic part assumed by Moses Flood may be easily imagined.
Added to this, moreover, when Nick quietly disclosed to Flood the true sentiments of Medora Royal, and the misleading statement made by her father, along with the probability that the past would be forgiven and Flood’s suit favorably considered, the situation, at least in so far as Flood was concerned, became changed indeed.
“But,” Nick emphatically declared a little later, “there is one fact not to be ignored. The murderer of Kendall still is at large, and he must be found.”
“I should say so,” cried Chick. “By Jove! I don’t see that we are any nearer that than at the outset.”
“Possibly not,” admitted Nick, smiling oddly. “But I have an idea that we shall finally land him.”
“Have you any suspicion, Carter, or formed any plans?” inquired Flood, with countenance evincing the happiness Nick had brought him.
Nick looked a bit grim and threatening when he replied.