"
"Exactly."
"Good land, what does he take me for?"
"A man who is ready to work on any line for money."
"Wal, when he pays me fur puttin' a head on Sile Keene, then I'll look to
'tother biz. But I hain't no fool, and I reckin' you ain't 'goin' cordin'
to orders from Andy!"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because, sense he didn't kill the gal, why shu'd he keer 'bout gittin'
someone else in the limbo. Partner, you ain't sharp."
"I may not be. Of course Andrew didn't kill the girl, but he knows who
did, and--"
"Does he? Then somebody's peached."
"Not necessary. Andy Barkswell's not a fool, Mr. Jounce."
"No?"
The look on the tramp's face was comical in the extreme.
The detective believed the hour for action had come. He had been anxious
to get from his companion a confession, but it seemed the fellow was too
shrewd to give himself away.
"Of course he knows that you put the girl out of the world--"
"That's a lie."
"What?"
The detective was on his feet in an instant.
"I say that's a lie! I didn't tech a hair o' Victory Vane's head, but I
know _who_ did.
Pages:
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94