“Taking it for granted that your theory’s right, suspicion seems to fall on the men you mentioned,” he said. “Whom do you suspect?”
Curtis considered. He was reluctant to express a decided opinion in the presence of his superior, who was famous for his acumen.
“So far as we have any evidence, I think it points to Prescott,” he responded. “He saw Jernyngham hide his money; he went on alone with him, and can’t prove when he got home. Then several of the footprints marked on the plan might have been made by him.”
The officer took up the boot and one of the paper patterns.
“There’s a doubt. I suppose he knows you have his boot?”
The corporal’s eyes twinkled faintly.
“I guess he’ll miss it sometime.”
“It’s possible. But what else have you against him?”
“Prescott stands to profit by Jernyngham’s death: he has control of the holding until the year’s up, and it’s a pretty good crop. He declares the jacket isn’t Jernyngham’s; he won’t allow the man can be in the muskeg. A day or two after Jernyngham disappeared he bought one of the new wide-swath binders. Paid the money down in new bills, which was what Jernyngham had, though the implement agent didn’t note the numbers.”
“Pretty strong points. What’s your private opinion? Out with it.”