"At the detective bureau the men were sullen and refused to talk. The detectives put them through the third-degree all night without results. This morning the men were taken to the office of the State’s Attorney. When he informed them that they were to be charged with being members of the ’Friends of the Poor,’ and would probably pay the penalty for the murders committed by that band of money-gougers, these Italians were scared stiff and immediately offered to make a full confession." "You mean," exclaimed Forrester, "that these men were not really the 'Friends of the Poor,’ as the detectives had supposed?" "I should say not!" returned Humphrey. "Just low-brow _intruders_—common thieves. It was simply a case of one crook trying to steal from another. And I want to tell you that when the facts are made public they’ll be mighty lucky to be safe in jail." "What’ve I been tellin’ you, Mr. Forrester," cried Green. "Thank God, them _Italians_ will be off our minds now." "Yes," admitted Humphrey, "you guessed right for once, Green. I’ve seen their signed confession. I telephoned here as soon as I left the Criminal Court building." "What did they say in the confession?" questioned Forrester. "Of course, I can’t remember the exact words, but the facts are about like this: Reading in the newspapers that people were placing large sums of money in that oak tree, they figured that it would be easy to slip up some night and steal the money before the other fellows could get it. It was just a question of knowing what night the money would be there. When they heard of your case, Mr. Forrester, these Italians decided that their opportunity had come and watched you night and day to find out when you placed the money in the tree. That _was_ their car which followed you through the fog that night. Reading my article, stating that you intended placing the money in the tree last Saturday, they made sure of the time by telephoning you Friday night." "One telephone call accounted for," murmured Forrester. "I frustrated the detectives’ capture," continued Humphrey, "by setting off the flashlight for my photo. It startled and blinded the detectives, so they tell me, allowing these fellows an opportunity to get away." "Did they get my dummy package?" inquired Forrester. "I think not," replied Humphrey. "The Italians claim not to have taken anything from the tree at any time." Forrester stretched out his feet before him, thrust his hands deep into his trousers pockets and smiled at the two men. "That settles all doubt about the ’Friends of the Poor,’" he said. "They not only remain unknown, but probably secured my dummy package and know that I have fooled them. Gentlemen, kindly omit flowers." "Ah! but here’s the biggest surprise of all," exclaimed Humphrey, as he jumped out of his chair, and taking a large envelope from the table where he had laid it on entering the library, drew forth a photograph.