"
"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."
"And Vail was not a lawyer," she asked breathlessly, "nor Neale one of
the executors?"
"In my judgment the fellows merely took those names to impose upon me,
to help bolster up their story, and make it appear probable.
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