Matthews looked at him without trying to conceal his contempt. "A hell of a bright newspaper man you are! It was Professor Brierly who pointed to the fact that Miller's and Schurman's deaths were murders. If not for that, Flynn's death might have been put down to some accident. "I wouldn't feel at all comfortable having the old gentleman go down there alone. It's true he'll have you there, Jimmy. You're a good little man and you've got plenty of guts, but I'll feel better, lots better, if I am with him personally." "Well, what was he sore about?" "He's sore because he knows why I'm going and he hates to be taken care of. We had some words about his going day before yesterday. He's a cocky old guy, as you know, isn't afraid of any single thing on earth and it galls him to have me go along to play nursemaid. Well, he can just be sore. I'm not going to leave his side." He paused and then said slowly: "Jimmy, I don't like this. I don't like it a damn bit. Birds who will play this kind of a game, with several million dollars at stake, who will plan murders like these, won't stop at anything. And there's no question about it that the Professor has interfered with their plans somewhat. I repeat, Jimmy, I don't like it a damn bit. In all those things you got him into I never had quite the same feeling I have now. I'm really afraid for him. "Well, I'm going to be with him and I'm likely to take drastic action first and talk afterward if someone makes a suspicious move." Jimmy soberly nodded. His absorption in the story had made him overlook this ramification of it. He could see that it was highly probable that Professor Brierly might be in as great danger as was any member of the Tontine group. The pilot of the amphibian, when he taxied up to the wharf, told Jimmy that arrangements had been made that he land the plane on a field belonging to John Mallory, amateur sportsman and airman, whose estate was close to the home of William Flynn, at Pleasantville. Chapter XIII The plane dropped down out of the sky at four o'clock Monday morning, Eastern Standard time. Professor Brierly, as was his wont when traveling in a conveyance that he could not drive himself, was fast asleep. He had slept throughout the journey in spite of the roar of the whirling blades that had swept them through the skies. A light touch on his arm woke him as they taxied to the end of the field. At its further end a man was seen pottering about the small hangar. As the three men stepped out of the plane, two uniformed policemen approached. One of them, after looking at the ill assorted trio, addressed Professor Brierly. "Herman Brierly?" Professor Brierly looked up at the huge bulk of the man. He nodded, staring in puzzled silence from one to the other policeman. The spokesman for the pair said: "Will you come with us, Mr. Brierly. We--"