"But just picture the jury, Boyle. The jury don't know as much law as you do. We'll give the jury your record, see? We'll tell 'em--we'll tell 'em plenty. Where was you that night Boyle?" Boyle wet his lips. "I was in a 'speak' that night. About eight o'clock I got talking with a man, a stranger, a man I don't know. We had a couple of drinks. He had a business proposition to make and he wanted me to take a drive with him. I went. Next thing I knew, I woke up in a ditch about four miles from here. It was morning. I guess my drink was drugged. The man, whoever he was, took everything I had on me except my watch. He didn't get it because it was in the little fob pocket of my trousers. I had a vest on." "Where was this 'speak,' Boyle?" "It was Corbett's," said Boyle after a momentary hesitation. "Did anybody in Corbett's know this bird, Boyle?" "I don't know; he was a stranger to me." Brasher lifted the receiver from the hook. After an interval the connection was made. Boyle watched him anxiously while he was asking the unseen person at the other end of the wire some questions. Brasher hung up the receiver. He turned to Boyle: "Yeah, they say you was there and left with a stranger about eight o'clock that night. They never saw this bird before. What business was you talkin' to him about, Boyle?" "Oh, just some private business." "Oh, private business, huh. You walk away with--by the way, Boyle, what business are you in now?" There was a long pause. Then Boyle answered in a low voice, all his jauntiness and assurance gone. "I do a little bootlegging." "Willing to admit it now, huh. Bootlegging is easier than murder ain't it, Boyle? And where was you goin' when you was picked up?" "I was leaving the state. What the hell could I do. This bird cleaned me out. I had my roll on me when I was with him." "Yeah. You, Boyle, an old-timer, falls in with a stranger in a speakeasy and goes with him at night in his car to listen to a business proposition. And the next thing you know it's mornin' an' you're sleepin' in a ditch. Well, Boyle, we'll make it all legal now. I charge you with murderin' Morris Miller on the night of July 3rd. I warn you now that everythin' you say may be used against you." As he was about to be led out of the room, Professor Brierly asked a question. "Mr. Boyle, the watch you spoke of. What kind of watch is it, a wrist watch or a pocket watch?" The prisoner looked at him a long time, then he burst out. "What the hell is this? What's the watch got to do with--" "Do you care to answer the question, Mr. Boyle?" asked the old scientist. There was something in Professor Brierly's demeanor that made the prisoner change his mind and his manner. He answered politely: "A pocket watch, sir." "How long have you had the watch?" The prisoner reflected the surprise of the other men but answered promptly: "I've had it about eighteen years." "Thank you Mr. Boyle. May I see the watch please--oh, I beg your pardon. I forgot."