"You can do your talking at headquarters, Mr. Prale," the officer said. "I'll have to ask you to come along with us. I'll leave my partner here to look through your rooms." "The sooner I get to headquarters, the sooner this thing will be straightened out," Prale said. "Murk, you will remain here in the rooms until you hear from me. Let the officer look at anything he wishes to inspect." "Yes, sir," said Murk, glaring at the two detectives. Prale faced the detective who had been speaking to him. "Be with you as soon as I get my hat and coat," he said. "It'll not be necessary, I hope, to put handcuffs on me." "We can go to headquarters in a taxi, and I guess I can handle you if you try any tricks," the detective replied. "There are going to be no tricks tried," Prale said. "Nevertheless, I think I'll keep a close eye on you." "Do so, by all means!" Prale retorted. "Ain't there anything I can do, sir?" Murk asked. "Nothing except to remain in the rooms until you hear from me," Prale told him. "If I should--er--be detained, I'll probably send for you." "Very well, sir." One of the detectives left the suite with Prale and walked down the hall to the elevator. The second officer remained behind to go through Prale's things in an effort to find evidence. Prale said nothing regarding the crime as they journeyed in the taxicab to police headquarters. His mind was busy, though. This appeared to be a culmination of the annoyances to which he had been subjected. At headquarters he was ushered into a room where a captain of detectives awaited him. "Don't have to talk unless you want to, Mr. Prale, but it probably will be better for you to do so, and have an end of it," the captain said. "Why did you kill Rufus Shepley?" "That's a fool question. I didn't kill him. I had no idea he was dead until the officer arrested me for his murder. I scarcely know the man, captain. I made his acquaintance aboard a ship coming from Central America, and I met him but once after leaving the ship. He told me his business and gave me his card, and that is all. I'm ready to answer any questions you may ask. This is some terrible mistake. I want to talk about it--have an end of it, as you say." "Very well, Prale," the captain said. "Mr. Prale, if you please. I have not been convicted yet and am entitled to some courtesy, it seems to me." "All right, if you're going to be nasty about it," the captain said. "But you won't gain anything by taking a high-and-mighty attitude with me." "I simply object to being addressed in the tone you used," Prale replied. "I am no crook. Let's get down to business. Ask me any questions you like, and I'd like to ask a few myself." "That is fair enough," the captain said, a shrewd expression coming into his face. "Suppose you take it for granted, for a few minutes, that I am innocent, and tell me when Rufus Shepley was killed, and where, and just how."