“I must see you, Mr. Hollister, on a matter touching Meredith’s estate,” he said. “It is of vital importance—”
“Pardon me,” broke in Curtis. “I had better withdraw.”
“No,” objected Hollister, before Elliott could speak. “Doctor Curtis is engaged to marry Miss Anne Meredith, the chief beneficiary under her uncle’s will; therefore—”
“I can speak before him,” finished Elliott. He stroked his clean-shaven chin and cleared his throat nervously. Evidently he found difficulty in broaching the reason of his presence at Ten Acres, or so Curtis concluded from his rapid breathing.
“I am one of a group of men,” began Elliott, his hand dropping from his chin to his watch fob, which he stroked with restless fingers. “We are, frankly, fighting prohibition and have pooled our interests.”
“By interests you mean money?” asked Curtis quietly, and Elliott eyed him more keenly; he had before centered his attention on the lawyer, and had addressed his remarks exclusively to him.
“Yes, money,” he admitted. “This money we placed in John Meredith’s hands to bank for us.”
“When?” demanded Curtis.
“To be exact it was just four weeks ago to-day.” replied Elliott. “I came on here and personally saw Meredith place the money in his safe deposit box.” Hollister stared at Elliott, his excitement rising. Curtis let his cane swing from one hand to the other as he drew a step closer to the stranger.
“Do you recall the number of the safe deposit box and the bank?” he asked.