Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/454

 McGraw laughed in derision.

Astro looked Moffett over quietly and said. "I believe, Mr. Moffett, that Mr. Middlebury owed you some money, did he not?"

"Yes—why?" Then Moffett's face changed to terror.

"And you threatened that he would have trouble if he didn't pay up, did you not?"

"By George! we got the man all right now!" said McGraw.

"I got my pay, though, only yesterday," exclaimed Moffett. "You'll probably find the receipt in Middlebury's pocket, or with his papers."

"Which shows how dangerous it is to judge a man on circumstantial evidence," remarked Astro.

"Well, it's more than we got against the others," McGraw grumbled.

"My dear old chap, I'll show you circumstantial evidence enough to convince you, before I'm through. Besides that, I'll let you listen to an outright confession. Now you had better let Mr. Moffett depart in peace. He's had a narrow escape. It's lucky some one with psychic perceptions was here to rescue him from the web of circumstance."

"It was the night watchman then, I'll bet on that!" said McGraw.

"Well, we'll take up his case next. Let's see, he owed Middlebury a grudge for having him discharged. He had a pistol; but he can't produce it. What has he done with it?"

They had approached Thompson by this time. The night watchman was listening, trembling in his turn. His face had the color of clay.