‘I wonder who had the nerve to commit such a robbery at high noon,’ mused Professor Fordney as he examined the safe, seventeen minutes after it had been rifled. ‘Same old story: no finger-prints, no evidence.’
‘Found anything?’ asked Lawson nervously as he entered his drawing-room.
‘Not yet. Are you here alone, Lawson?’
‘No. John, my nephew, is staying with me. Everyone else is in town.’
‘Where is he now?’
‘Oh, he left about an hour ago.’
At 3.20 P.M. Fordney noticed Jones, the gardener, working at the edge of a flower-bed. He kept looking furtively at the house while he frantically covered over the hole he had dug. Finishing, he hurriedly walked toward the boat-landing.
Fordney, following, reached the dock just as John guided his motor-boat in.
‘Have a nice day?’ asked Fordney.
‘Yep. Had a grand run up the lakes.’
‘Where were you when your uncle’s safe was robbed?’
‘Boy, I was hauling in a big muskie! What a battle he gave me! See him in the end of the boat? Isn’t he a beauty?’
‘When did you return?’ demanded Fordney of the gardener.
‘I don’t know what time it was,’ he replied nervously, glancing at John.
‘You must have some idea.’
‘Well, it was about noon,’ he reluctantly answered.
‘By the way, John, do you know the combination of your uncle’s safe?’ inquired Fordney.
