"You seem to have a lot of money for men who are out of work," Prale said.
"Been savin' it, and it's none of your business anyway," growled the other.
They started toward the door, and Prale and Murk followed them, watched them until they started away, and then turned back to bathe their faces and hands. Then Prale got a taxicab, and drove to the office of a physician, who did his best to make the countenances of Prale and Murk presentable.
It was an hour later when Jim Farland called Prale by telephone at the hotel.
"I've investigated that little matter, Sid," he reported. "Those fellows gave fictitious addresses, as you supposed they had done, and it is an even bet that the names they gave were fictitious, too. No doubt about it, Sid—they were hired to get you. You'd better be on guard and a bit careful."
CHAPTER XVI
MURK RECEIVES A BLOW
An hour before dinner, Detective Jim Farland suddenly appeared in Sidney Prale's suite at the hotel.
"They are working on me now, Sid," he said. "I got a telephone message when I was in the office, and the gent at the other end of the line informed me that it would be beneficial to my health if I immediately ceased having anything to do with the Rufus Shepley murder case and stopped working for you."