Page:The Whisper on the Stair by Lyon Mearson (1924).djvu/244

 different. This here Teck bird must be removed, mustn’t he?”

“Look’s like it, Eddie. I had thought of handing him over to the police, but there are reasons why it might be inadvisable. In the first place, I don’t want to drag Miss Pomeroy into it—and though she is absolutely innocent, of course, yet that won’t prevent the papers smearing her name all over the story. In the second place, I am not certain that the police would be able to get anything on him. The only thing that, might connect him with the murder of old Mat Masterson is⸺”

“The books,” supplemented Eddie.

“Exactly. And what’s to prevent him from getting rid of them at the first alarm⸺”

“Let’s help him get rid of them,” decided Eddie.

Val looked his inquiry. “You mean⸺”

“Sure thing. He must have them with him—seeing that they probably contain the dope about where this here money’s stuck away; why—I bet they’re in his room right now.”

“Wouldn’t be surprised,” assented Val, nodding his head. “But I don’t think he’s been able to locate the money himself, yet—in fact, I’m sure he hasn’t. The thing to do is to beat him to it.” Eddie nodded.

“Have you any idea at all⸺”

“Not the slightest, Eddie. Suppose you were an old man, and you put some instructions in a book about where to find your fortune—what would you do?”

Eddie was quiet for a space. “I guess I’d mark the place, some way,” he said at length, “so’s I wouldn’t forget.”

Both lapsed into a brief silence again, and it was Val who broke it this time. “By Christmas, Eddie, I