that in this case he was telling only the truth as he knew it.

We looked at each other aghast. What if Murtha had got it and had
destroyed it before his death? That was an end of the dreams we
had built on its capture. On the other hand, if he had hidden it
there was small likelihood now of finding it. The only chance, as
far as I could see, was that he had passed it along to someone
else. And of that Dopey Jack obviously knew nothing.

Still, his information was quite valuable enough. He had given us
the first definite information we had received of it.

Carton, his assistants, and Kennedy now vigorously proceeded in a
sort of kid glove third degree, without getting any further than
convincing themselves that Rubano genuinely did not know.

"But the stenographer," reiterated Carton, returning to the line
of attack which he had temporarily abandoned. "Something became of
her. She disappeared and even her family haven't a trace of her,
nor any other institutions in the city. We've got something on
you, there, Rubano."

Jack laughed. "Mr. Carton," he answered easily, "the police put me
through the mill on that without finding anything, and I don't
believe you have anything. But just to show you that I'm on the
square with you, I don't mind telling you that I got her away."

It was dramatic, the off-hand way in which the gangster told of
this mystery that had perplexed us.