At its close, Forrester lit a cigarette and sat in deep thought. To Forrester, Green’s original theory that some or all of the "Friends of the Poor" lived near the tree, seemed extremely plausible. Crude as the detective might be, his reasoning in this regard apparently had a sound basis in the weird happenings as related by Joshua, and now confirmed by Green’s experience. Combining the theories of both Green and Humphrey, and fitting them in with the negro’s story and Green’s tale, threw several hitherto unnoticed figures into the limelight. Forrester did not doubt for a minute that the woman revealed by Green’s light was the girl referred to by Joshua. If so, then the man who had attacked Green was probably the big negro himself. A third person to be considered was the peculiar negress, said to live in the woods near the tree. Forrester remembered with a start Humphrey’s triangulation theory. Here were three prominent figures with which to lay down a triangle. Surely he was making more progress in the quest than any of the detectives. These occurrences might only be indefinite spirit clues, but they pointed accusing fingers at several very definite people. Though he had little faith in Green’s ability as a detective, it was possible that the man’s very stupidity might force him to stumble upon worth while clues, as in this instance; clues which Forrester later could make use of in his own deliberations. Thinking along these lines, Forrester decided that he would not allow Green to leave the case, as the man had intimated he would do. "Green," said Forrester, at length, "you spoke in your office as if you wished to drop this case." "You bet I do!" returned Green, emphatically. "That would be foolish," remonstrated Forrester. "There’s a good deal of money in it for you, and your reputation won’t lose anything if you are on the ground when the case is solved." "It’ll never be solved," affirmed Green, positively. "Yes, it will," declared Forrester. "I’m going to do it, with your help." Green stared. "You ain’t seen nothin’ yet," he protested. "Now, listen to me," went on Forrester. "On Saturday morning we open our country house. I want you to come up on the noon train with enough baggage to last you all summer, or until we settle this case. You are to be my body-guard when I am home, and watch the house while I am away. Occasionally I may want you to look up certain things for me, but I will promise you right now that I won’t ask you to go near that tree again unless I am with you. Our chauffeur has a nice place over the garage and I’ll have him give you a room there, so you can be close at hand. Now, that’s settled. The noon train, remember. And here’s the address." Forrester tore off a corner of a menu and wrote out directions for reaching "Woodmere." Green wavered. "Well, I dunno," he said, hesitatingly. Forrester leaned across the table.