Part 11 (1/2)
”Who is this boy?”
”He belongs in the office,” replied Mr. Sumner.
”I know nothing about the safe,” said Hal, speaking up for himself. He began to believe detectives were very much like other men.
”Please give me a list of the people who might have got at the safe during your absence,” continued Parker, while his companion prepared to write down the names.
”These gentlemen,” began the elderly broker.
”Yes.”
”The janitor of the building.”
”What is his name?”
”Daniel McCabe.”
Hal started and wondered if the janitor could be any relation to Jack McCabe, his acquaintance of the previous day.
”Go on,” continued the detective.
”A strange man was in yesterday.”
”Ah! tell us of him.”
Mr. Sumner told what he knew. Parker turned to Hal.
”Would you know this fellow again, if you saw him?” he asked.
”I believe I would.”
”Please describe him as closely as you can.”
The youth started and gave a pretty accurate description of his visitor.
Both detectives listened attentively.
”Perhaps it was Larkett,” suggested Hamington, in an undertone.
”Did the fellow have a cast in his eye?” asked Parker.
”How would the boy know that?” asked Hardwick, nervously. ”He says he hardly glanced at the man.”
”Answer me,” said Parker, paying no attention to the interruption.
Hal was doing his best to think. Had that fellow really had something the matter with his left eye?
”I--I can't really say,” he returned, slowly. ”Was it the left eye?”
”Yes.”
”He might have had. It runs in my mind so, but I am not positive.”