“Hardly, for he testified that he went to the office that evening, and Miss Ellicott said that he told her he was going.”
“No alibi—and no evidence yet,” said Mr. Dana.
“It's coming,” said Quincy. “Mrs. Larrabee with whom Wood boarded testified that he had a heavy oaken staff and that he took it with him when he went out that evening because he had sprained his ankle.”
“Did Mr. Wood acknowledge that the staff was his?”
“He did finally. He injured his case by saying, at first, that he didn't take it with him, but Mrs. Larrabee's testimony knocked that.”
“Is that all the testimony against him?” inquired Mary.
“Oh, no,” continued Quincy. “Wood made a damaging statement that will make it go hard with him. When he asked Ellicott for his daughter's hand, the old man got mad and threatened to kick him out. Then the judge asked Wood what he said when Ellicott threatened him and the young fellow incriminated himself by saying that he told Ellicott if he did that he would not live to do it again.”
“Did it appear that he had been kicked out?” inquired Mary.
“No; and Wood denied it as well.”
“And you saw his father, Quincy? What did he have to say?”