"Do you anticipate any trouble?" whispered Jimmy to Mr. Cooley.
"I don't anticipate it," rejoined the lawyer dryly, "but I'm prepared for it. If it comes, Bascom Cooley will be on deck." Confidently he added: "McMutrie is the only hard nut we have to crack. He's one of those d——d conscientious fellows. He may ask awkward questions. Zacharie is ours—and Bodley is a d——d fool. He's liable to jump in any direction, but he'll follow McMutrie in the final say. Zacharie is the family physician, and that always carries conviction."
"We were very lucky to get him," chuckled Jimmy.
"Hush!" commanded Cooley. "Dr. McMutrie is talking to you." In a warning undertone, he added: "Take care what you say!"
"Has your niece ever threatened you personally, Mr. Marsh?" demanded Dr. McMutrie.
"Specifically no—constructively yes," answered Cooley promptly for his client.
The inspector looked annoyed.
"Excuse me, Mr. Cooley," he snapped. "I addressed Mr. Marsh."
Jimmy turned red and shuffled uneasily on his feet. Quickly he said:
"Yes, I should say so. Yes, her manner was always very—very—I should say quite threatening."