"
"But who started this yarn?"
Bordine was deeply interested, and he sat up now and forgot for the time
his aching head and weakened body.
"It seems to be the murdered girl's brother who is engineering the
search. He is determined that his sister's murderer shall be brought to
justice."
"That is right of course."
"Yes, but the evidence points strongly to you. I think, with a speedy
trial, you could be convicted, I vow I do, Mr. Bordine. Dare you go back
and risk it?"
"I am innocent--"
"True, but you _seem_ guilty. The girl, they say, was stabbed--"
"Yes, with a small dirk."
"Exactly," with a start.
Perhaps he was wondering how the young engineer knew so much if he was
guiltless.
"Can you tell me what kind of a knife it was?"
The single eye of the questioner was fixed in a keen gaze upon the face
of August Bordine.
He seemed growing suspicious again.
"It was apparently a two-edged blade."
"Apparently?"
"Yes. Of course I could not tell exactly, since the wound was not easily
examined."
"I see. Then you have not seen the knife--the dagger that found the life
of Victoria Vane?"
"Certainly not.
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