United States or Belarus ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Sidney Prale sprang into the private office and stood glaring at his cousin. Behind him was Murk, and behind Murk were Kate Gilbert and her maid. "Quite a gathering!" Farland said, grinning. "I'm glad that you are here. Kindly close and lock the door, Murk, with that young office gentleman on the outside!" Murk obeyed. George Lerton sprang to his feet.
Lerton cried. "Why, we've got you, you weak fool!" said Farland. "I knew you in that old farmhouse despite your mask. Your hands gave you away I recognized them." "And he's the man who tried to bribe me!" Murk cried. "I can tell it by his hands, too!" "You tried to smash Prale's alibi," Jim Farland continued.
"He returned day before yesterday, I believe. I saw his name in the passenger list." "Mr. Prale says that he met you last night on Fifth Avenue, and that you told him he had some powerful enemies seeking to cause him trouble, and advised him to leave New York and remain away." "Why why this is not so!" Lerton cried. "I haven't seen him until this moment.
The knock was repeated, and Farland, still keeping his eyes on the man at the desk, backed to the door and turned the key. Then he took up a position where he could continue watching George Lerton and keep an eye on the door at the same time. "Come in!" he called. The door was hurled open. At the same instant, the office boy who had opened it was thrust aside.
If you are afraid to be seen in my presence, kindly keep away from me hereafter and don't worry about me looking you up at your office. I'll not take the trouble!" Sidney Prale said nothing more; he whirled around and walked rapidly up the Avenue, enraged, wondering what it all meant, determined to find out as soon as possible. Lerton ran after him. "Won't you go away, Sid?" he whimpered. "No.
"You know about Sidney Prale being in a bit of trouble, of course?" "Yes. Can't understand it," Lerton replied, frowning. "Sidney always had a temper, of course, but I never thought he would resort to murder during a fit of it. You know, I never got along with him any too well.
The clothing merchant and the barber furnish the alibi." An expression of consternation was in George Lerton's face, and Jim Farland was quick to notice it. "Of course, I am glad for Sidney's sake," Lerton said. "But I had really believed that he had killed Shepley. It caused me a bit of trouble, too." "How do you mean?" Farland asked. "Shepley was a sort of client of mine," Lerton said.
"What is the meaning of this intrusion?" he demanded. "Has my office been turned into a rendezvous for maniacs?" "Sit down!" Sidney Prale cried. He had not taken his eyes off Lerton, had not even turned to speak to Jim Farland, had not even wondered how Farland had escaped and come here. Lerton dropped back into his chair, wetting his thin lips, his eyes furtive now. "You miserable cur!"
"I'll have to ask you to leave my office, sir!" "I expect to do that little thing before long, and you are going with me," Farland said. There was a knock at the door. Farland did not take his eyes off George Lerton. "If you have touched a button and called some fool clerk, I'll manhandle you!" he promised. "Kindly consider yourself a prisoner!"
Why was George Lerton trying to have Sidney Prale sent to the electric chair for murder? Naturally, a man facing prosecution on a murder charge is liable to be nervous, whether he is innocent or not. If an attempt is being made to gather evidence that will clear him, he wishes for frequent reports, always hoping that there will be some ray of hope.
Word Of The Day