"
Jack started at that. The night Laurel went away was the night Jim
Peters had quarreled with Tony and been hurt.
"Did he come to the hunt?" asked Jack.
"No, but the other man did. Brentano and he quarreled, and he drove
Jim Peters down to his boat. I saw them for I was wandering about
wishing for Laurel, and I remember it all."
"If that man, Brentano, you call him, chased Peters into the boat
did he get in with him?" Jack asked anxiously.
"Yes, I saw them shove off, but Peters was ugly and wanted to come
back."
"Did he?"
"I had to hide then, as they might have injured me if they caught
me. I did not see the boat go out or come back. I went to one of my
many hiding places," finished the old man with evident effort.
"Well, Mr. Starr, you have relieved my mind greatly, and I hope I
have not taxed your brain too strongly. But the fact is the
detectives are trying to find out about those men and every bit of
information helps. The police, you know, like to clear things up to
suit themselves," Jack said.
At the word "police," the man winced. Jack noticed the change of
manner, and at once turned the subject to that of the health of his
listener. He urged him to get up enough strength to leave the
island, for Laurel's sake, as well as for his own.
"But I have lived here like a wild man," argued Mr. Starr, "in fact
I fear I have grown to be one in ways and manners.
Pages:
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172