"Corporal, Captain McDonald wants to ask you some questions. Set your gun down over there."
Miller obeyed rather sullenly, and came to attention.
"Miller," said Captain Bill, "where were you on the night this murder was committed?"
The tone and directness of the question dazed the man. He did not immediately find words. The Captain repeated:
"I want you to tell me, Miller, where you were when this murder was committed, on the night of August the 13th."
If Corporal Miller had any other story to tell, he had forgotten it.
"I was down town," he said.
"How long had you been down there?"
"All the evening, ever since dark."
"Where were you before that?"