“It fastens the accusation more firmly,” Holbrook stated. “With us it can have no effect, but others will be likely to condemn our client on the strength of such conclusive proof.”
“I do not care what others think,” said Mr. Spaythe.
“No; I was referring solely to the jury that will try him. These jurors will be drawn from the entire county, and some will not be intimately acquainted with Toby Clark or have any confidence in his record for probity.”
“Whoever placed the box in Toby’s yard placed the papers in his room,” asserted Eric, speaking for the first time. “The place was never locked, and as the real thief wanted to get rid of such dangerous property there was no better place in all Riverdale to hide it in than Toby’s shanty.”
“I shall use that argument in my defense,” remarked the young lawyer in a careless tone that annoyed Eric.
“I trust this case will never come to trial,” resumed Mr. Spaythe after a pause. “What steps are you taking to discover the criminal?”
“My first idea was to prove an alibi for Clark, but that I am unable to do. He was twice seen entering Judge Ferguson’s office, the day following his death. I myself found him there when I went to look at the rooms with Chandler the postmaster. When the boy left the place the second time he carried under his arm a parcel large enough to contain Mrs. Ritchie’s box. Finding that Kellogg had unearthed this fact and would use it in evidence, I went to see Toby about it. He tells me it was a package containing his personal books and possessions, which he was removing from the office. I believe this statement, for he had the package in plain sight when he carried the key to you, at your house.”
“I remember,” said Mr. Spaythe.
“But several others saw and noticed the package, and I understand that all of these will be subpœnaed as witnesses at the trial.”
“But about the guilty one—the person who actually took the box from the office—have you any suspicion as to his identity?”