United States or El Salvador ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"And this Mexican was a tenant of the building," Nestor went on, "and he might have had the key made. At least he was there the night the key was used, looking over papers he had no right to touch." "It begins to look as if the Mexican went to the building for the purpose of robbery, and that he found a tool in Jim Scoby," said Frank.
While Fremont was mentally facing this new danger, the corridor door was roughly shaken and a harsh voice demanded admittance. It was Jim Scoby, the night watchman, a sullen, brutal fellow who had always shown dislike for the boy. Why should he be asking admission? Did he suspect?
As I stated a moment ago, the fact that the incriminating letters were not taken speaks in your defense, still, you might have been frightened away after striking the blow." Jim Scoby and Felix, who had been listening intently to the conversation, now whispered together for a moment, glancing malevolently toward Don Miguel as they did so.
You had no cause for enmity against him, had you?" "I wasn't there as first aid to the wounded," replied Scoby, sullenly. "I was there on business, and in danger of being caught at it, at that. Besides, I looked Cameron over, and thought he was out for the count and nothing more. Why don't you ask that foxy-looking guy over there," pointing to Don Miguel, "what he done it for?"
"Nod or shake your head if you find your voice failing," advised Lieutenant Gordon, and the big fellow expressed his satisfaction with the arrangement by a look. "Was Mr. Cameron working at his desk when you left him?" An emphatic nod. "Then that clears Don Miguel," said Nestor. "Who next entered the room?" Big Bob glanced toward Jim Scoby, still snarling at the group. "Was Felix with him?"
"Yes; I opened the door and look out into the corridor and listened. I could hear footsteps on the staircase, but they died out while I stood there. The man was hiding in the building, for the street door was not opened, and we did not see him on the way down. I suspect that the watchman knew he was there." "The watchman, Jim Scoby, is a rascal," replied Fremont. "I don't like him.
"Cameron knew who you were, and that is why he took you into his own home; that is why the settlement of the estate was delayed year after year. He was waiting for you to come of age." Jim Scoby was glaring at the speaker as if he thought to finish him by a look.
The three admitted all that Nestor had discovered, and nothing else. Was this because they knew that he was certain of his facts regarding the visits and the men who had made them? Anyway, there was no dispute as to the details. It was the important conclusion that was denied. "If you found Mr. Cameron lying there unconscious," Nestor asked of Scoby, "why didn't you summon help?
Nestor laughed at the puzzled boy's exclamation and sat for some time looking down on the dim camp-fire near the tents he had visited a short time before. The night was cloudless, with a slight wind blowing from the west. Now and then the sound of hoarse voices came from the peaks above. "The Mexican knocked off his heel there," he finally said, "and Scoby left his coat-button.
"That is only his pleasant little way," replied Nestor, with a quiet smile. "He is a very arrogant fellow." "If that is really the third man," Shaw said, presently, as the soldiers came up the hill, Scoby and the Mexican being almost forced along, "we've got 'em bunched. We've got the three men who were in the Cameron suite that night all in a heap. Guess you can pick out your man now.
Word Of The Day