“Well, the man reported that he had found trace of Philip Henley; he told of the life the man was leading, and where he lived.  I think all this must have been immediately after your separation, as he mentioned no wife.  However, he described something even more important.”

“You must tell me,” she burst forth, as I hesitated.  “Don’t be afraid to trust me with all you know.”

“I am not afraid,” I returned stoutly enough, “not in the sense you mean, at least, yet it is never easy to be the bearer of evil news.”

“It is evil?”

“Misfortune, certainly.  The man reported the death of your husband.”

“His death!  You are sure?”

I could hear her quick breathing, as she leaned forward, all attention riveted on me.

“Yes.”

“You saw the report?”

“I have it with me; as soon as it becomes daylight you can read it yourself.”

“Yes, but tell me now what he said; how it happened.”

“The report was specific, and would seem to be true.  He says that Philip Henley, while intoxicated, was struck and killed by an automobile.  The date given was after you left him.  His body was found by the police but his pockets had been rifled, and there were no marks of identification on his clothes.  He was buried unknown, but the informant claimed to have visited the morgue, viewed the body, and states positively the dead man was Philip.”

“And—­and you think—­tell me what you believe, Gordon Craig.”

“There is but one conclusion to my mind.  I have no doubt as to the entire truth of the story.  The silence and disappearance of your husband is evidence that he is either dead, or, in some other way, helpless.  The former explanation is the most probable, and, coupled with this fellow’s statement, seems unquestionable.  There would be no apparent reason why he should lie.”

“No; there is none.  I—­I—­really, I have thought this all the time; but about those others?”

“Vail and Neale, you mean?  It seems to me they fit in exactly with the story.  Everything had been removed from Philip’s pockets, and all ordinary means of identification destroyed.  There must have been a purpose in this, and it must have been done by a second party, as there is no suggestion of suicide.  My theory is this—­the body was either found by others before the police arrived, or else the automobile party which killed him paused long enough to ascertain the extent of his injuries.  In either case his pockets were searched, and all contents removed.  Do you comprehend what that would mean?”

“I—­I think so; but tell me yourself.”

“He certainly had papers with him dealing with his inheritance.  To a shrewd, criminal mind they would be suggestive.  He also, undoubtedly, had keys to his apartments.  With these in their possession it would be comparatively easy for unscrupulous persons to ascertain the entire nature of the case, and secure all necessary documents.  Then there would be nothing more needed except a man capable of passing himself off as Philip Henley.”