almost makes sense. Fill out that 'p—' with the rest of the word, as I imagine it, and it makes 'papers,' and add this scrap and you have:
"'Man with papers (in) lower ten, car seven. Get (them).'"
McKnight slapped Hotchkiss on the back.
"You're a trump," he said. "Br— is Bronson, of course. It's almost too easy. You see, Mr. Blakeley here engaged lower ten, but found it occupied by the man who was later murdered there. The man who did the thing was a friend of Bronson's, evidently, and in trying to get the papers we have the motive for the crime."
"There are still some things to be explained." Mr. Hotchkiss wiped his glasses and put them on. "For one thing, Mr. Blakeley, I am puzzled by that bit of chain."
I did not glance at McKnight. I felt that the hands with which I was gathering up the bits of torn paper were shaking. It seemed to me that this astute little man was going to drag in the girl in spite of me.
