The two men, however, afforded him no support. They kept their eyes on Braceway. They gave the effect of falling away from some evil contagion.
"Because," Bristow continued, "I have been the innocent victim of trumped up charges of embezzlement by the crookedest man in a crooked business, he accuses me of murder when——"
"Shut up!" commanded Braceway, dropping his hand to his side.
He flashed the pawn broker a quick glance.
Abrahamson leaned over and rapped with his knuckles on the door to the porch. It opened, admitting two policemen in uniform.
"I took the liberty, chief," Braceway apologized, "of requesting them to be here. I knew you'd want them to do the right thing, and promptly."
Greenleaf gulped, nodded acquiescence. Stunned as he was, the detective's manner forced him into believing the charge.
Bristow's smile had faded. But, save for a pallor that wiped from his checks their usual flush, there was no evidence of the conflict within him. So far as any notice from him went, the policemen did not exist.
One of them stepped forward and laid a hand on his shoulder.
He ignored it