“Yes, it’s gone from the files, but they may not have their hands on it yet. Sure you made a thorough search down below the building last night? It couldn’t have been caught in the shrubbery?” “I’m sure about that. We went over every inch of space and found half of the gum wrappers in Washington,” replied Bob. “I wish I could feel sure that the paper has not gotten into the hands of the men who are after it. From what’s gone on today I’m inclined to believe there has been a slip somewhere. We know the paper is missing from the files but we’re not sure that the man who took it was able to deliver it outside before you caught him.” “I don’t think he did. His only chance would have been to have dropped it from the window and that would have been too risky.” “He might have placed it in a marked container of some kind and have had a confederate waiting below,” suggested the federal agent. “That’s possible, but when Arthur Jacobs and I searched last night we couldn’t even find fresh footprints under the windows. Of course there were some near the window where the guard was trussed up, but if the paper had been dropped in a container, there should have been footprints directly below.” “The rain might have erased them.” “I doubt it. The ground under the shrubbery is unusually soft and I noticed how deep our own prints were.” Merritt Hughes sat down on the bed and it was a long time before he asked Bob another question. “What do you think about Tully? Could he possibly have taken that paper out of the file?” “Not unless he was a magician and I don’t think Tully would do a thing like that. He’s wild and headstrong, but he wouldn’t go that far. Why that’s working against Uncle Sam!” “Certainly, but some people aren’t bothered by scruples like that. Well, if we’re sure the paper wasn’t tossed out the window, it narrows down to three people—the man you caught, Tully and yourself.” “But I wouldn’t take that paper,” smiled Bob. “Of course not. I know that and so does Waldo Edgar, or he wouldn’t have made you a provisional agent. But Condon Adams is as anxious to solve this case as I am and he may try to hang something around your neck. Remember, that only three of you were in the room and that paper disappeared in some manner.” “I hadn’t thought of it in that way,” reflected Bob. “It does put me in a pretty serious light.” “That’s why I have been so anxious that you be assigned to work with me on this case. I had a long talk with Edgar this morning. I’d told him of your ambition to eventually join the service and pointed out that you might well prove invaluable as an inside man on this case. He agreed with me and of course when Condon Adams put up about the same kind of a proposition in behalf of Tully, he couldn’t say no.” “I’d like to know where Adams gets all his pull,” said Bob.