“Mine,” came Otis King’s voice from down the hall.
The tense lines were back around the doctor’s mouth. “The trail clouds again, Tucker,” he said; but Captain Tucker, triumphant, held out the silk handkerchief.
“Ever see this before, King?”
“No.”
“It was found near Anthony’s body. The dog, taking a scent from it, followed a trail to your door. How you explain that?”
“Seeing that this is the first time I’ve been upstairs, I can’t explain it. Cagge brought my bag to this room, but I did not follow. When Anthony went tottering off to bed I went outdoors and tramped the roads for hours.”
“What for?” Captain Tucker barked.
“I was trying,” King said, “to hatch a plan by which I might get my hands on that manuscript.”
“And then you came back, and came up here——”
“I came back, but did not come upstairs. I went out again at once.”