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Murk had fought often where there was no interference and he disliked to be bothered now, but he desisted at Prale's command. "Well, what's all this about?" one of the officers demanded. He did not address any of them particularly. "I was walking along the path, and these men attacked me," Sidney Prale said. "My valet was a short distance behind and he came to my assistance.
A hand descended upon his shoulder, and a voice answered him. "You bet it's great, Prale!" Sidney Prale's smile weakened a bit as he turned around, but there was nothing of discourtesy in his manner. "You like it, Mr. Shepley?" he asked. "Do I like it?
"She sure is a great old girl!" Rufus Shepley agreed. "Always glad to see her!" "Well, I've got to get ready to land; I'm not going to waste any time," Prale said. "I'm glad that I met you and perhaps we'll meet again in the city." "Hope we do!" said Shepley, grasping Prale's hand. "Our factories are out in Ohio, but the company headquarters are in New York, of course.
He ushered the merchant and the barber into the office, looked down at the captain, and grinned. "What's all this?" the captain demanded. "It's Sid Prale's alibi," Jim Farland said. "These two gents want to tell you how they lied to-day, and why they lied. It is an interesting story."
This man, undoubtedly, was a sort of leader, one who had hired others to help him in his work and who knew the identities of Sidney Prale's mysterious enemies, and why they were working against him; perhaps, also, the man who could tell a good deal about the murder of Rufus Shepley.
One of the men went back into the adjoining room, and the other remained standing before Murk, sneering at him, his hands opening and closing as if he would take Murk's throat in them and choke the life out of Sidney Prale's valet and comrade in arms. Then the man who had left the room returned, and there was another with him. Murk looked at this stranger with sudden interest.
"I am not jesting, Mr. Farland." "Neither am I. My eyes have got to be opened, sir. You've got to come clean with me. Prale's enemies may strike at him from the dark, but Jim Farland never works in the dark! I want to see where I'm stepping. I never like to trip over anything." "I have told you all that I can at present." "Why?"
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.
If you can give me information concerning Sidney Prale's plans, and tell us how much he knows, we will pay you handsomely." "I getcha," Murk said. "And if you can manage to continue working for Prale, and let us know everything as it comes up, there'll be considerably more in it for you." "Want me to do the spy act, do you?" "Call it whatever you like.
"You must be afraid that I am finding out some things," Jim Farland suggested. "That is scarcely the reason," the masked man answered. "We want Sidney Prale to stand alone, to be without help of any sort that is all." "But I am more than Sidney Prale's employee. I am his friend!" Farland protested. "You were his friend ten years ago, sir, but a man may change a great deal in ten years.
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