“Cleared up the whole thing, I hope,” Cray assured him excitedly. “Let’s stroll in this direction—there are not many houses, and we need not be afraid of being overheard.” “Lead the way,” the masquerader agreed, adding, when they had left the platform behind: “I’m curious to hear what you have dug up, Cray. Before you begin, though, I’d like to give you a few of the results I have arrived at in my study since you left me. It will be interesting to see how near they come to your findings.” He was proud of the way he had analyzed the matter, and could not resist the temptation to parade his results. “Go ahead,” invited Cray in an expectant tone. He was thinking of Nick’s achievements in that line, and looked for something out of the ordinary. To be sure, his famous friend might “take the wind out of his sails,” as had often been the case in the past, but Jack’s admiration was sincere enough to stand even that test. The fact that he was not disappointed in this instance is perhaps the most remarkable tribute that could be paid to Gordon’s intelligence. “Just a word or two, then,” Green Eye said in a self-satisfied tone that was far from characteristic of the man he was impersonating. “In the first place, I’ve made up my mind that there’s no use in looking for Simpson in New England. The trail starts there, of course, but it ends here.” “Here!” echoed Cray in amazement. “How the dickens did you hit upon that?” Gordon had not meant the word to be taken quite so literally. He felt sure that the fugitive had headed for New York, or some place in the immediate neighborhood, and he was inclined to believe that he was lurking in the vicinity of New Pelham, but he was prepared to shift his ground, if necessary. Now he realized, as a result of Cray’s amazing question, that he was on the right track. Furthermore, that realization gave him confidence, and helped him to fit in the rest. “Oh, I’ve just arrived at it,” he said carelessly, determined to use his companion’s unconscious tip for all it was worth. “He has been back in New Pelham, and will be again, if he isn’t at this moment. More than that, I have a suspicion that he has been lurking about his own house.” “For the love of Mike!” Cray breathed, looking his admiration as they strolled through the gathering dusk. “You sure are a wizard!” “Not a bit of it. I simply use my reason, and when I find two and two, I don’t hesitate to put them together, knowing that the result is bound to be four.” “But what in thunder led you to think that the fellow would come back here—especially that he would dare to return to his own place?” demanded Jack.