The detective leaned back against the cushions and regarded Murk closely. He knew that Sidney

d business,"

ugh," sa

d say he was guilty. It sure looks b

in' to do him d

Murk, old boy. Well, we are going

anythin

him, d

or somebody like him ten years ago," Murk replied. "If it hadn't

for him,

sir,

ong for Sid Prale ten years ago, before he went away. And I'll bet that, w

k got out. Farland paid the chauffeur and watched hi

e you are?

ittle shop where Mr. Prale bough

you stand right here by the curb and watch the front door of t

s,

or of the little shop, and entered. The proprietor c

nd. The man who faced the detective now was small, stoop-shouldered, a sort of a rat of a man who had considerably more money to

" he said. "Anything I

an't," Farland told him. "You

een trying to get along, but business

know better!" Farland advised him. "Cha

anything I can do fo

a couple of years ago?"

-I

n, and you'll be doing time. You've sailed pretty close to the edge of th

hope,

can keep on the good side

ything I can do

e you could te

s,

t something I know, for the time being. But, if you shouldn't tell

beckoned, and Murk hurried acros

man before?" Fa

his lips, and a sudden

look familiar,

ruth out of you, or something will drop. And when it

what to do," wai

the

something pe

it! Know

before," the me

he

t night

d exclaimed. "When did you see him las

alf past ten or a quarter of eleven o'cloc

for t

s,

r them?" Far

was with him,"

w the ge

day-at police

him before-that he was not here last

d smashed a fist down upon the cou

tle crook! I want to know why you lied, who told you t

the merchant whimpered. "I wa

now if you don't tell the t

by messenger. I got it e

what ab

urder, and that he probably would try to make an alibi by saying that he was here last night and bought some clothes for another man. The letter said that I was to take

t? You wanted that

as no signature at all, and the paper was just

did

t the letter and money might have come from political headqu

ars that you're afraid of everybody who h

s, sir, from somebody w

arcely think it was politics. You've bee

s,

h. The letter was typewritten on an ordinary piece of paper, and the envelope was of the

hirty and a quarter

" said the

our mind again, if you know what is good for you.

rinning Murk at his heels, leaving a bad

y guess. It's no job at all to run a bluff on a small-time c

. Once more Murk remained outside, and Jim F

obody will overhear," he said.

coming. This man knew Jim Farland, too, and h

ou can go and keep out o

now what you

ou'd better talk straight. Do you expect to run a barber

y,

olice force now, but you know me! I've got a bunch of friends on the force, and if I told a certain se

land?" the barber gasped. "I'v

ou going to keep righ

ourse

n a little matter if I fo

best I can,

you get a typewritten letter this

's face tu

!" Farland

said. "I've got the letter and money in my desk right now. There wasn't any

hat the letter told yo

n't und

nd Murk now stepped

man?" Farla

seen him

s man, didn't it? It told you not to help a man named Sidney Prale, arrested for murder, to make

es,

ust what the l

sir. I didn't know where tha

came from some b

dare take a chance, Mr. Fa

who has busted a few laws and

of a mistake, sir? W

ten-tell the truth," Jim Farlan

about eleven o'clock, sir. He got a hair cut and

ure about

t a quarter after eleven

n speak the truth. Get

u mean, sir?

th me. I want you to tell the tr

Jim Farland and Murk to the corner. There Farland engaged another taxica

ll for Prale, but he won't ca

e headquarters. Farland had telephoned from the clothing store, and the captain of detectives was waiting

his?" the cap

e two gents want to tell you how they lied to-day

m Farland removed his hat, sat down, motioned for

This clothing merchant is ready to say now that Prale and Murk were in his place last night about half past ten, and that Murk got his clothes there. And this barber is ready to swear that Prale and Murk arrived at his shop about a quarter of eleven or eleven, and did not leave

," said t

these two gents

erstood how the fear of a political power might have been in th

id, "but this isn't the end, by any means. Remember that fount

le's favor. I just want you to whisper in the ear of the court that the alibi looks good, and let it go at that. There's something b

enemies of his to think he is in deep water, so

" said Ji

gh. I'll d

t a woman calling h

heard o

ale had told him. The cap

at general description," he said. "I'm afraid

once, I'll trail her and find out a few things. She may have nothing to do with this

ng outside the law, as far as I know, but he's come pre

, so it probably had nothing to do with that. But why should he try to get Prale out of town? And, being a man of that sort, why did he say tha

n take a look a

nd. "I'm going to take a look at him my

id not engage a taxicab. He walked up the street,

e a good start," Farla

s,

e working with

a regular detec

t's

an ordinary dick.

know men who would dispute the

the hotel where Prale had his suite. Suddenly, just ahead of them, they saw S

idea?" Far

Didn't feel like going to bed, an

g to tell you to-night, except to say that it is good news, and I'm issuing orders

laughing; and then he s

it?" Farl

Gilb

he

that limousine. See her?

cab. "This is what I was hoping for, Sid. Go on to the hotel with Murk

axicab whispered directions, a