“I was looking at it when he left the board, and for a second or so after he left it. In fact, Mr. Moehler may remember he reproved me for not getting up promptly.”
“Then you saw Mr. Osborn’s board after he left it?”
“I did, sir.”
“And you saw this line on his board when he left it?” queried the commandant, confidently.
Ralph listened with painful eagerness for Himski’s next words. He felt his heart throbbing violently. He was dismayed and confounded, and conscious as he was of his innocence, yet he felt the force of the overwhelming evidence piled up against him.
Himski spoke deliberately and impressively. “When Mr. Osborn left his board I was looking at it, and when he left the words concerning Mr. Moehler were not on his board.”
A feeling of great relief shot through Ralph.
“That is ridiculous, Mr.—— What’s your name?”
“Himskihumskonski, sir.”
“Perfectly ridiculous, Mr. Himski—ahem—I didn’t catch all of your name.”