The Conquest of New France; A Chronicle of the Colonial Wars

It was almost a prison room, for there were steel bars at the windows, and only the one door. Prale walked t

st seen it. All that he could recall was that, the afternoon before, he had used it to write a note in a memorandum book. How and where had he lost it, and how had it come into Shepley's suite? Had he dropped it in th

his quarrel with Shepley and to make an arrest on the strength of that and of finding the fount

ad spent the time standing before the window, smoking and trying to think things out.

rly. "It always has been a mystery to me why a man keen in business and supposed to posse

r pardon!"

n. I have not questioned them yet, but my men have, and have reported

g they may have discovered

trouble with a bank, and at the hotel where you f

bear out my statement abo

esently," the

and presently returned with the president of the trust company. He lo

s man?" the c

e banker. "He i

any busines

," the banker said. "Yesterday he called at the bank, satisfied m

him, you told him you did not care to handle his bu

o take care of the deposit, which was practically one million dollars. But Mr. Prale told

Didn't you tell me that you didn't want anyt

"You said that you wished to put

tement. It was a bare-faced l

" Pral

banker interrupted. "I am a man of standing and c

"I just wanted to show Mr. Prale that there were

uickly, and Prale sprang t

ou could read it in his face! I d

d let's have more witnes

latter went out, this time to return with the ma

man?" the c

y place as Sidney P

what ab

n the fifth floor," the hotel ma

to get out, that the suite has been reserved and that there was none vacan

you were leaving, whether any of the employees had treated you with discourtesy. You told me that you

et. "That's a lie, and

have to sit here and be insulted by

l, thank you," t

d from the room, and the

o, did he?" the

!" Pral

alsehood, to hear you tell it. Howe

me the man brought in the hotel detective who had

it, except that he made it appear that Prale had threatened Rufu

tain pen of mine after

id n

dy else pi

otel detective; and h

ir again. Here was where his proper alibi began, with the exception of Jim F

man?" the c

cousin, Si

he been away f

turned day before yesterday, I believe

that you told him he had some powerful enemies seeking to cause

l this moment. I would have looked him up, but did not know at w

. "You mean to sit there and tell me that you didn

u trying to do, Sid? Why have you done this thing? We never were close t

Prale cried. "You are lying and yo

I did

e to run away, and wouldn't

lips and looked appealingly

is my card. This man is my cousin, but I cannot lie to shiel

the door, and Sidney Prale d

nd remained for the length of time you said. Jim has told me that much. But he does not know where you went and what you did after leaving him. What we are inte

he end of the desk. Murk did not like policemen and detectives, and did not care whether

at is it?

first, what happened, and bring the story

ive and had decided to end it all. Mr. Prale grabbed me and hauled me back, and then he made me see that suicide w

that; get do

got a taxicab and drove downtown, a

as it when y

en we went to a barber shop, and I got a hair cut and a shave. After that w

id you reach

t mid

ed after you

sleep," s

okes," the captai

n' and got up and dressed. Mr. Prale got up later, and we ate breakfast in the suite. Then the cops came. One of them took

ain. "His story corresponds with the one I told you, doesn't it? And doesn't it

ours," replied the captain. "Just a minute!" He faced Murk a

own a couple of months doin' odd jobs. Before that I was b

Prale for giving you a j

ked to me decent, like I w

. And there happens to be something else, too. I had the clothing merchant and the barber you mentioned look you over while you were in the other room. The clothing merchant says

irty liars!

y that?" Pra

ch is in your favor. Aside from that, we have only the testimony of a tramp you said you picked up and gave a job. You had plenty of time to kill Rufus Shepley. You had ample time to c

ls the

was found beside Shepley's body, either! As for you Murk, or w

hat?" Mur

know. I don't know when you met Mr. Prale, or where, but I do know that you got bac

et Mr. Prale just like I said, and he bought me the clothes and took me to the barber shop, no matte

u to go, Murk, but you are to remain in Mr. Prale's rooms and take

are who wa

I think. The evidence against you is such that I ca

hite and his hands were shaking.

red. "I'll come out of this all right in time. There are a lot of thi

thing I can do,

wyer, and they may visit you at the hotel. I'll s

went from the room slowly, anger flushing his face.

ale said. "You are only doing your duty, of course. I want Jim Farland to attend to thi

aptain said. "I'll let you have a conferenc