d, astonished, shocked. But never had he experienced such a fe

Prale stared at the two detectives for an instan

ter, Mr. Prale," one of

how I can be accused of such a crime. I am not a cut-throat, and Rufus Shepl

officer said. "I'll have to ask you to come along with u

tened out," Prale said. "Murk, you will remain here in the rooms until y

Murk, glaring at

tective who had be

nd coat," he said. "It'll not be neces

and I guess I can handle you if you

to be no tricks t

think I'll keep a

ll means!" P

thing I can do,

you hear from me," Prale told him. "If I shou

well

wn the hall to the elevator. The second officer remained behi

cab to police headquarters. His mind was busy, though. This appeared

ed into a room where a capta

probably will be better for you to do so, and have an end

ade his acquaintance aboard a ship coming from Central America, and I met him but once after leaving the ship. He told me his business and gave me his ca

Prale," the

ot been convicted yet and am entitl

," the captain said. "But you won't gain anythin

ale replied. "I am no crook. Let's get down to business. Ask

captain said, a shrewd expr

utes, that I am innocent, and tell me when Rufu

r this morning. It was in Mr. Shepley's room. The man was fully dressed

and; go on

he heart," said the captain. "

t me of the cri

side the body," th

an elaborate pen, chased with gold, and on one side of it was

ze it?" the

ly; it i

admit tha

ee how it came to be beside

o get away," said the captain. "It is easy to drop a founta

were located," Prale said. "I didn't know

replied the capt

came to be beside the body, but of one t

, you woul

e you tell me what you have against me, and then I

n afford to do that," the captain said. "Attend me clos

hear the eviden

e, you have recently spent so

n Honduras,"

and have learned many things about you. We have learned that you have a hot te

men of affairs. I have punished a few

your properties down there and announced

e. Honduras is all right in some ways, but a man likes to live with his own

cquaintances, before you left, that you were

wanted to enjoy life a bit and perhaps I wanted to show off a bit

something sinister-that you were going

ainly

tain of detectives. "You say that you fi

him in the smoking room on the ship,

Mr. Shepley was a m

th men of affairs in the United States," Prale replied. "I

ou happen to me

liable to speak to each other on a boat or a train

appen to p

to anything, and we quit early. Are you trying to insinuate

et us get on. You had no trouble with Mr. S

before the ship docked. I went to my stateroom f

ee him next?" t

lobby of a hotel on

appened

thing upon which to hang a serious charge of murder. I saw Mr. Shepley sitting in the lobby and went up and spoke to him. We had been friendly

what ha

im. He acted like a maniac. I rebuked him for his manner, and the hotel detect

rst?" the ca

d and I hated the scene that had been caused. I wen

y follo

immedi

o him and threaten

t I didn't know why he had insulted me,

" the capta

ught to settle with him fo

the

eet. The hotel detective, I thin

so says that you were white with anger, and that you went off down Broad

nt down to Madison Square, and

nybody

d, who used to be on your detective for

well, and I'll

ld him, I believe, that I seemed to have enemies workin

id Farland

why Shepley had acted so. We talked the mat

nd where did

said Prale. "It was after

ght to yo

ot," Pra

where you went

up the Avenue, and met my cous

m accide

ok me-call

did you ta

ot exceptionally friendly, and never have been. We worked for the same firm ten years ago, and after I went

s and renewed your acquai

peculiar about the me

what

York and remain away. He sai

about

ose I have a few business foes in Central America; a man can't make a million without acquiring

rton expla

rale, "and I told him to go h

y seem a bit weak

you wish. I couldn't make him talk-maybe you can. I'd like to

you to believe you

on board ship and some since landing, that say somet

hy

d anything in my life to merit suc

it when you par

about nine thirty o

our hote

east and went

ar thing to do at tha

suppose it was because I wanted to think over what George Lerton had told me,

el

k and sat down in th

did you re

n came on the dock. He was going to jump into the river, but I c

d y

p, and afterward to the hotel. I registered him as my valet. I call him Murk. I can prove by him that I

u get back to you

spent considerable time buying the c

these people. It seems peculiar to me that a millionaire

ded only a chance, and he would make good. He was broke and friendless, and I wa

d. "I'll have these people here in a short time, and we'll question them. Just te

captain of detectives made

"I don't want to cause any innocent man annoyance, but