“Huh! What was the trouble, Mr. Wheeler?”
Daniel Wheeler gave a start. Then, pulling himself together, he answered slowly: “The trouble was that Mr. Appleby and myself belonged to different political parties, and when I opposed his election as governor, he resented it, and a mutual enmity followed which lasted ever since.”
“Did you kill Mr. Appleby?”
Wheeler looked at his questioner steadily, and replied: “I have nothing to say.”
“That’s all right, you don’t have to incriminate yourself.”
“He didn’t kill him!” cried Maida, unable to keep still. “I was there, in the room—I could see that he didn’t kill him!”
“Who did then?” and the detective turned to her.
“I—I don’t know. I didn’t see who did it.”
“Are you sure, Miss? Better tell the truth.”
“I tell you I didn’t see—I didn’t see anything! I had heard an alarm of fire, and I was wondering where it was.”