Page:The Millbank Case - 1905 - Eldridge.djvu/148

 "But there must have been some motive in the murder," Hunter affirmed.

"If we can get hold of the papers, we'll let the motive take care of itself," Charles interposed. "To think, I was in Millbank that very night—almost at the very moment! If I'd known—I'd have found out what was in that room before any detective had a chance!"

He looked at Hunter with an implication of failure. He would gladly have defended himself, but he remembered that he might have been on the scene before McManus, and that he had dawdled over his breakfast and let the opportunity slip. No one would have refused him admission any more than McManus had been refused. How many anxious hours he might have saved himself!

As a result of the conference, Cranston was sent for and put on the case. He listened to his instructions and then said:

"I've got to know what you want, if I'm to work with any advantage to you or myself. You want to find out who Wing's mother was—but that's incidental. You want to know who murdered