I
could swear to it."
"It's all dirty with coal-dust," cautioned Mr. Bud, as Larcher seized it
for closer examination.
"It proves he's been here, at least. We've got him traced further than
the detective, anyhow."
"But not so very fur, at that. What if he was here? Mind, I ain't
a-sayin' one thing ur another,--but if he _was_ contemplatin' a voyage,
an' had fixed to be took aboard late at night, what better place to wait
fur the ship's boat than just this here?"
"But the money must have been handled here--taken out of this cover, and
the cover thrown away. Suppose somebody _had_ seen him display that money
during the day; _had_ shadowed him here, followed him to this room, taken
him by surprise?"
"No signs of a struggle, fur as I c'n see."
"But a single blow with a black-jack, from behind, would do the
business."
"An' what about the--remains?"
"The river is just across the street. This would occur at night,
remember."
Mr. Bud shook his head. "An' the load o' parcels--what 'ud become o'
them?"
"The criminal might convey them away, too, at his leisure during the
night. They would be worth something."
Evidently to test the resourcefulness of the young man's imagination, Mr.
Bud continued, "But why should the criminal go to the trouble o' removin'
the body from here?"
"To delay its discovery, or create an impression of suicide if it were
found," ventured Larcher, rather lamely. "The criminal would naturally
suppose that a chambermaid visited the room every day.
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