<h2 id="c20"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XX</span> <br/><span class="h2line2"><i>ACCUSATIONS</i></span></h2>
<p>Flash moved swiftly to the door and jerked it
open. The hall was deserted, but as he listened
he could hear the soft pad of footsteps fading away.</p>
<p>“That door didn’t open by itself,” he muttered.
“Someone was listening. But whoever he was, he’s
gone now.”</p>
<p>Flash re-entered the bedroom. The shower was
still running, but in a few minutes Doyle came out,
wrapped in his flannel robe.</p>
<p>“Did you send that telegram?” he asked.</p>
<p>“No, not yet. Doyle, there’s no reason for you to
resign.”</p>
<p>“I’m fed up,” the technician responded shortly.</p>
<p>“I’ve been thinking. I may keep on for awhile,
after all. My plans aren’t turning out the way I
expected.”</p>
<p>“You mean you want to go on to Clinton? You believe
my story, then?”</p>
<p>“Yes. I don’t honestly think you were a party to
what happened today.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_164">164</div>
<p>Doyle drew a deep sigh.</p>
<p>“I’m glad to hear you say that, Flash. You’ve
been pretty badly mixed up—”</p>
<p>“Let’s not argue that point,” Flash interrupted.
“My opinion about Rascomb won’t change. I intend
to report him to the police.”</p>
<p>Doyle frowned.</p>
<p>“You’re making a big mistake if you do that, Flash.
Rascomb is an important man with connections
around this city. Even if he had done what you think
he did, it would be hard to prove.”</p>
<p>“Not if you’ll testify with me.”</p>
<p>Doyle shifted his weight uncomfortably.</p>
<p>“I couldn’t be a party to railroading an innocent
man.”</p>
<p>“Innocent!”</p>
<p>“That bump on the head confused you, Flash,”
Doyle said anxiously. “Maybe you ought to see a
doctor.”</p>
<p>“You think I’m out of my head?”</p>
<p>“Only on that one subject. You’ve been suspicious
of Rascomb ever since you met him.”</p>
<p>“And for a mighty good reason. I suppose you’ll
think I’m crazy if I tell you that Rascomb and Fleur
locked me up in the lodge.”</p>
<p>“What?” Doyle demanded incredulously.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_165">165</div>
<p>“After he left you, Rascomb came back. He
boasted that he intended to pull off a final deal and
skip the country. Take a look at this!”</p>
<p>Flash drew the picture of Albert Povy from his
pocket and slapped it on the table before Doyle’s
startled eyes.</p>
<p>“Where did you get this, Flash?”</p>
<p>“In Rascomb’s desk!”</p>
<p>“It doesn’t seem possible,” Doyle muttered.
“There is a marked resemblance I’ll admit, but Rascomb
has no scar.”</p>
<p>“You’re mistaken there. He’s been using clever
make-up to keep it covered. Now will you go with
me to the police station?”</p>
<p>“I still think you’re mixed up somehow,” Doyle
protested. “I hate to get involved in this mess. Rascomb
isn’t the man to take an accusation sitting
down.”</p>
<p>“Then I’ll go to the police alone,” Flash said
shortly. “It won’t take me long to make my report.
As soon as I’m through we’ll start for Clinton.”</p>
<p>“We can’t get out of here until the truck is repaired.”</p>
<p>“Why not hire a car? We could take the hand
camera, get our strike pictures, and come back here
later for the truck.”</p>
<p>“We could do that,” Doyle agreed. “Do you feel
equal to the trip?”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_166">166</div>
<p>Flash shook his head impatiently. “No, but I’ll
keep going somehow.”</p>
<p>He changed his clothes and hastily packed his belongings
in a suitcase. Doyle watched him with a
troubled gaze.</p>
<p>“Flash, you look bad,” he said after a moment.
“Let me call a doctor.”</p>
<p>“We haven’t time. I’m on my way to the police
station now. You might see if you can locate a car
while I’m gone.”</p>
<p>Leaving Doyle in the room, Flash went downstairs
to the nearly deserted lobby. As he reached the revolving
door at the front entrance another man entered
the hotel and they met face to face.</p>
<p>Flash stopped short.</p>
<p>“Captain Johns!” he exclaimed.</p>
<p>The army man peered at the young man an instant
without recognition, and then he remembered him.</p>
<p>“Evans, isn’t it?”</p>
<p>“Yes, I was trying to reach you by long distance
telephone only a few minutes ago,” Flash began eagerly.</p>
<p>The Captain cut him short. “Major Hartgrove and
I arrived here early this morning. Glad to have met
you again, Mr. Evans.”</p>
<p>“One minute,” Flash protested as the man started
to edge away.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_167">167</div>
<p>“I can’t stop now,” Captain Johns apologized.
“Some other time I’ll be glad to grant an interview.”</p>
<p>“I’m not after an interview or pictures. I would
like to give you some information about Albert Povy.”</p>
<p>Captain Johns stopped short. He gazed at Flash
intently.</p>
<p>“Albert Povy no longer interests me,” he said.
“The man is dead.”</p>
<p>“You are wrong, sir. Povy never was killed in the
train wreck. I have proof of it.”</p>
<p>“Impossible! It happens that Major Hartgrove
and I came here this morning to investigate that very
thing. Povy is buried in a cemetery at Clear Lake.
I visited the grave myself.”</p>
<p>“It couldn’t have been Povy’s grave. The man
still lives.”</p>
<p>Captain Johns grasped Flash by the arm.</p>
<p>“Come back into the lobby with me, young man,”
he urged. “If your information should be correct it
will prove of vital importance to us!”</p>
<p>Flash sank into a chair beside the captain. He
offered the picture of Povy and told where he had
obtained it.</p>
<p>“But do you realize what you are saying?” the
Captain demanded in amazement. “You are accusing
Herbert Rascomb of living a dual life!”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_168">168</div>
<p>“Rascomb and Povy are the same person,” Flash
insisted. “For years the man has been living a double
existence. As Rascomb he’s acted the part of a
wealthy, upstanding citizen. As Povy—well, I don’t
know much about <i>his</i> past.”</p>
<p>“Albert Povy was one of the most daring spies the
government ever encountered,” explained Captain
Johns. “He caused us great embarrassment. Recently,
evidence piled up against him. Had his death
not occurred, he would have been arrested within
forty-eight hours.”</p>
<p>“I saw him on the train,” Flash said. “At the time
it appeared to me that he might have been shadowing
Major Hartgrove.”</p>
<p>“Your observation was correct. Povy knew that
the government had taken an interest in a parachute
which is being perfected by a man named Bailey
Brooks. He was under the impression that Major
Hartgrove had possession of certain papers and
specifications referring to it.”</p>
<p>“And when the train was wrecked he tried to rob
the Major?”</p>
<p>“He made such an attempt and failed.”</p>
<p>“Where is the Major now?” Flash asked. “I believe
you said he was here at the hotel.”</p>
<p>“He is waiting for me upstairs.”</p>
<p>“And does he still have the specifications for
Brooks’ invention?”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_169">169</div>
<p>Captain Johns frowned in annoyance. He felt
that he had told the cameraman entirely too much.</p>
<p>“The reason I ask is this,” Flash said. “Rascomb
boasted while he held me prisoner that he intended to
pull off one more deal before he disappeared. He may
have learned that Major Hartgrove is here—”</p>
<p>“Major Hartgrove is well able to look after himself,”
the captain interposed dryly.</p>
<p>Flash arose.</p>
<p>“You don’t believe my story,” he said.</p>
<p>“I am convinced that you believe it,” returned Captain
Johns. “Your accusation against Rascomb is
amazing. However, I promise you a complete investigation
will be made.”</p>
<p>“Unless you work fast, Rascomb may disappear,”
Flash warned impatiently. “I was on my way to
the police when I met you.”</p>
<p>“No, you must not go there! Allow me to handle
this.”</p>
<p>“Yes, sir.”</p>
<p>A page boy crossed the lobby, gazing questioningly
toward the pair.</p>
<p>“Call for Captain Johns! Captain Johns!”</p>
<p>The army man signaled to the boy, and upon learning
that he was wanted on the telephone, excused
himself. When he returned a few minutes later his
face was sober.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_170">170</div>
<p>“I don’t know what to think now,” he said. “That
call was from Charles W. Gordon.”</p>
<p>“Gordon?”</p>
<p>“A prominent and respectable lawyer here in Excelsior
City. He requested me to come without delay
to Room 47 and to bring you with me.”</p>
<p>“Why should Gordon wish to see us?”</p>
<p>“He said he was representing Herbert Rascomb and
had important information to offer.”</p>
<p>“It sounds like a trap!” exclaimed Flash.</p>
<p>“I hardly agree. Gordon is a reputable lawyer.”</p>
<p>“How did he know we were here in the hotel and
together?”</p>
<p>“I was wondering about that,” mused Captain
Johns. “We’ll see him, but if Room 47 is the spider’s
den, let us keep an eye open for entanglements.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_171">171</div>
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