“But I met him accidentally.”
“You didn’t have to chat with him like an old friend.”
Janet Hosmer gave him a slow, meditative look.
“How do you know how I talked with him?”
“You talked with him. That in itself was too much.”
“I don’t view it in that light,” she responded. “He was perfectly civil. Whatever public opinion may be regarding the shooting, I know he killed the man in self-defence. So that’s nothing against him. You would have done the same in his place.”
Ed Sorenson leaned towards her.
“You were mistaken, Janet. I’ve said before that I feared you were, but the prosecuting attorney has witnesses to the gun-play that he’s dug up. Martinez saw nothing; how could he from inside the office? And remember that you’re only a girl, Janet; in the darkness and with the excitement you were confused. I haven’t a doubt this scoundrel Weir made you believe you saw what never occurred, when you appeared in Martinez’ office. When you’ve thought it over, you’ll realize that yourself. These new witnesses tell just the reverse of what you fancied happened. I’m going to see that you’re away from San Mateo when the man’s tried, as he will be.”
No reply coming from her, he continued: