Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/213

Rh "I know that he did not have it, Inspector," the girl returned evenly, "when he left the Tudor Hotel in Plymouth, late last night, where he had been calling upon my mother and myself!"

"You can swear to that?"

"Yes, I can and will swear to that!" the girl replied. She turned quietly to Preston.

"You were not hurt then, were you?" she asserted rather than asked.

"No!" he managed to answer dazedly. "I was hurt, as I told you, this morning."

"And I will swear to that gladly, Inspector," she confirmed.

"Miss Varris! you shall not!" Preston started; but the inspector interrupted.

"Very good! But at what time can you prove he did leave the Tudor Hotel, Miss Varris?"

"I can prove, upon evidence which you cannot hesitate to accept, Inspector," the girl rejoined calmly, "not only that Mr. Preston could not have had time to rob and be hurt 189