"It is evil?"

"Misfortune, certainly. The man reported the death of your husband."

"His death! You are sure?"

I could hear her quick breathing, as she leaned forward, all attention
riveted on me.

"Yes."

"You saw the report?"

"I have it with me; as soon as it becomes daylight you can read it
yourself."

"Yes, but tell me now what he said; how it happened."

"The report was specific, and would seem to be true. He says that
Philip Henley, while intoxicated, was struck and killed by an
automobile. The date given was after you left him. His body was found
by the police but his pockets had been rifled, and there were no marks
of identification on his clothes. He was buried unknown, but the
informant claimed to have visited the morgue, viewed the body, and
states positively the dead man was Philip."

"And--and you think--tell me what you believe, Gordon Craig."

"There is but one conclusion to my mind. I have no doubt as to the
entire truth of the story. The silence and disappearance of your
husband is evidence that he is either dead, or, in some other way,
helpless. The former explanation is the most probable, and, coupled
with this fellow's statement, seems unquestionable. There would be no
apparent reason why he should lie."

"No; there is none. I--I--really, I have thought this all the time;
but about those others?"

"Vail and Neale, you mean? It seems to me they fit in exactly with the
story. Everything had been removed from Philip's pockets, and all
ordinary means of identification destroyed. There must have been a
purpose in this, and it must have been done by a second party, as there
is no suggestion of suicide. My theory is this--the body was either
found by others before the police arrived, or else the automobile party
which killed him paused long enough to ascertain the extent of his
injuries. In either case his pockets were searched, and all contents
removed. Do you comprehend what that would mean?"

"I--I think so; but tell me yourself."

"He certainly had papers with him dealing with his inheritance. To a
shrewd, criminal mind they would be suggestive. He also, undoubtedly,
had keys to his apartments. With these in their possession it would be
comparatively easy for unscrupulous persons to ascertain the entire
nature of the case, and secure all necessary documents. Then there
would be nothing more needed except a man capable of passing himself
off as Philip Henley