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For some time after the door to Kent's roo Mercer re with himself whether his own moment had not arrived In the end he decided that it had, and with Kent's fifty dollars in his pocket he made for the shack of the old Indian trailer, Mooie It was an hour later when he returned, just in tian and Father Layonne reappeared first, followed in turn by the blonde stenographer, the istrate, and Constables Pelly and Brant Then the door closed
Within the rooh which he had passed, Kent sat bolstered against his pillows, facing Inspector Kedsty with blazing eyes
"I've asked for these few moments alone with you, Kedsty, because I wanted to talk to you as a er athe case, I owe you no more respect than I owe to any other e of calling you a cursed scoundrel!"
Kedsty's face was hot, but as his hands clenched slowly, it turned redder Before he could speak, Kent went on
"You have not shown me the courtesy or the sympathy you have had for the worst criminals that ever faced you You amazed every man that was in this room, because at one time--if not now--they were my friends It wasn't what you said It was how you said it Whenever there was an inclination on their part to believe, you killed it--not honestly and squarely, by giving me a chance Whenever you saw a chance for me to win a point, you fell back upon the law And you don't believe that I killed John Barkley I know it You called me a liar the day I made that fool confession You still believe that I lied And I have waited until ere alone to ask you certain things, for I still have soae in you? Is it--"
His right hand clenched hard as a rock as he leaned toward Kedsty
"Is it because of the girl hiding up at your bungalow, Kedsty?"
Even in that moment, when he had the desire to strike the man before him, it was impossible for him not to admire the stone-like invulnerability of Kedsty He had never heard of anotherKedsty a scoundrel or dishonest And yet, except that his faced burned more dully red, the Inspector was as impassively cala Marette Radisson in hiding at his bungalow, see effect on hi the poise of the other's mind When he spoke, it was in a voice so quiet and calm that Kent stared at him in amazement