Arthur Somers Roche

“ All we knew was that we believed our client, that Major Penrose wouldn’t be permitted to deal with England if Germany protested, and that if Penrose put up any squawk Germany would learn the truth and would protest. Silence was necessary all around, and, well, we took the case.”
“The large reward causing you to shut your eyes and not ask too many questions, eh?” demanded Reese sarcastically.
“Oh, well, business is business,” said Minot impudently. “Back to cases! But at that, half a million is quite some money, eh? ”

“ But there is a place below Major Penrose’s windows that shows that somebody stood there a little while. The tracks are covered now, but Sheriff Carney is very certain that they were made by one of these men. His theory is that one of these two men stood below that window ready to break his partner’s fall if his partner should swing from the balcony to the ground, to avoid discovery. That makes the man waiting below partner in the crime, accessory after the fact, if not before, in the crime of murder. ”

“ It is pretty certain that both of them did not go up-stairs, for there are the tracks of only one man in the snow beneath the balcony at the other end of the hotel from the major’s room. And only one man could have escaped them, that way. And as another man could not possibly have come down-stairs after the murder without detection, part of the story of Minot seems true. But I believe that there is evidence here sufficient to detain these men. We have the motive; we know that they committed a murderous assault on Mr. Wrenham last night. ”

“ But it wasn’t enough, as I’ve explained several times, to prevent England from getting those plans. My employer wanted them for himself!
“Well, in the bathroom I’d noticed a pair of overshoes. I never neglect a trick. That’s why the Greenhams chose me as the man to handle this little affair. And I’d have handled it right, too, if that saphead Ravenell hadn’t gummed the game by snatching the muff from Miss Gilman on the path yesterday morning. But that’s all over. Spilt milk can’t be picked up. ”

“ Of course, Japan’s allied with England and might not bid against England. But I’m not so sure. Alliances don’t mean much. Anyway, my large friend Ravenell,” and he sneered at his partner, “thought he saw a chance for easy money, I think. He may get it driving a truck, but I doubt it.
“Well, whatever his lone game was, he dropped it when I came down here. I took charge. Miss Gilman has spoken of Wrenham rescuing her from our clutches. She’s spoken of our attempting to steal the plans. You, Dr. Reese, have asked Wrenham to swear out a warrant for assault against us. ”

“ My recollection is that they went up-stairs. I don’t remember seein’ ’em come down again. I don’t want to do an injustice even to a couple of skunks like them, but I can’t swear that they was in the hotel. Don’t see how they could have been—both on ’em. One of them might ’a’ worn them overshoes, but t’other——”
“That will do, Captain,” said the doctor. ”