Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/215

“Just a word of warning from a friend. You should go at once to the Honolulu Public Library and remove from the bound volumes of all Los Angeles papers carrying the Denny Mayo murder story, certain rather damaging references to your own part in that affair.”

Charlie looked up. “Where did you get this?”

“I found it under my door when I awoke this morning,” the actor told him.

“You went to library at once?”

“Directly after breakfast. Who wouldn’t? I couldn’t recall that I'd ever been mentioned in connection with the case—there was no reason why I should have been. But naturally—my curiosity was aroused. I went down and read every word I could find regarding Mayo’s murder in the Los Angeles Times—the only paper they had. And oddly enough——”

“Yes?” Chan prompted.

“It was just as I thought. My name wasn’t mentioned anywhere. I’ve had a rather puzzled morning, Inspector.”

“Natural you should,” nodded Charlie. “A queer circumstance, indeed. Have you any idea who wrote this note?”

“None whatever,” returned Van Horn. “But the purpose of it seems to be clear. Somebody has sought to cast suspicion in my direction. It’s a delicate little attention, and I appreciate it. He—or possibly she—figured that I would go to the library and sign for that volume, and that of course you would soon find it out. After that, you would fancy me deeply in-