“How can that be? Rachel said you were in desperate need.”
“So I was until I went through that idiot’s pockets. He had two hundred dollars in bills and chicken-feed. I knew I’d get another wad from you to-night.”
“Why did you want to murder me, Ralph?”
“Murder! Oh, shucks! I didn’t want to kill anybody. But I don’t trust you, William. I’m always expecting you to double-cross me. Last night it was a lasso. To-night it is this.” And he suddenly whipped out a revolver.
CHAPTER VII
STILL MERE MYSTERY
Meiklejohn pushed his chair back so quickly that it caught the fender and brought down some fire-irons with a crash.