Kent did not reply immediately. Every fact that Ferguson had
brought out fitted the situation, and Rochester's disappearance
added color to the detective's charges. Why was he hiding
unless from guilty motives, and where had he gone? Kent shook a
bewildered head.
"It is plausible," he conceded, "but, after all, only
circumstantial evidence."
"Well, circumstantial evidence is good enough for me to work on,"
retorted Ferguson. "On discovering that the telegram from Cleveland
was a hoax, I concluded Ferguson might be lurking around Washington
and so sent a description of him to the different precincts and
secured a search warrant."
"You did?"
"Yes. Armed with it I visited Mr. Rochester's apartment, but
couldn't find a clew to his present whereabouts," admitted Ferguson.
"So then I went to your office, Mr. Kent, and ransacked the firm's
safe."
"Confound you!" Kent leaned forward in his wrath and shook his fist
at the detective. "What right had you to do such a thing?"
"The search warrant covered it," explained Ferguson.
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