Eugene Manlove Rhodes

“ Thorpe and Patterson, on the contrary, swore that Tillotson made the attack, not upon Krouse but upon Broderick. Few have ever doubted that evidence, because it was not likely that a man of Broderick's known and deadly quickness could be shot twice without firing a shot himself, except by a man who took him by surprise. ”

“ If Jeff happened along and observed an ambuscade, he would be likely to waive ceremony."
"But Thorpe and Patterson have good characters, haven't they?" asked Pringle.
"Good reputations," said George tartly. "Though it is whispered that Thorpe, as a young man, was habitually careless with fire arms. But Tillotson also bore an excellent reputation, minus the whispering. It is at least half as probable that two men of good repute should turn perjurers over-night, as that one should. Broderick had a very bad reputation and Krouse had no reputation at all. ”

“ Aughinbaugh's rooms a few minutes before midnight. He should have reached his own rooms just after midnight; he didn't. There are the contradicting events, apparently giving each other the lie; there, and not at another time. If Thorpe and his striker lied—and men do lie, even politicians—Jeff is accounted for. And it is the weakness of a lie that it is no real thing, but an appearance botched upon the very truth. When in doubt, search for the joint. The lie is compressed by hard facts into these few minutes. George is looking in the right place, George knows what to do; go on, George! ”