"Nobody knew I had it," Garson continued, dropping his braggart
manner abruptly.
At the words, Mary started, and her lips moved as if she were
about to speak.
Garson, intent on her always, though he seemed to look only at
Burke, observed the effect on her, and repeated his words
swiftly, with a warning emphasis that gave the girl pause.
"Nobody knew I had it--nobody in the world!" he declared. "And
nobody had anything to do with the killing but me."
Burke put a question that was troubling him much, concerning the
motive that lay behind the shooting of Griggs.
"Was there any bad feeling between you and Eddie Griggs?"
Garson's reply was explicit.
"Never till that very minute. Then, I learned the truth about
what he'd framed up with you." The speaker's voice reverted to
its former fierceness in recollection of the treachery of one
whom he had trusted.
"He was a stool-pigeon, and I hated his guts! That's all," he
concluded, with brutal candor.
The Inspector moved restlessly in his chair. He had only
detestation for the slain man, yet there was something morbidly
distasteful in the thought that he himself had contrived the
situation which had resulted in the murder of his confederate.
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