Jim Farland went to the smoking room and sat down in a corner. He tried to think it out, groped for a starting point. He considered all the persons connected with the case, one at a time. Farland knew that Sidney Prale had told the truth. Why, then, had George Lerton told a falsehood about meeting Prale and talking to him, when the truth would have helped to establish an alibi? Why had the clothing merchant and the barber lied? "I suppose I'll have to use stern methods," Farland told himself. "Old police stuff, I suppose. Well, I'm the man that can do it, take it from me!" He went up to Prale's suite again. "Can't find out anything about that woman," he reported. "And I want to get in touch with her. Keep your eyes peeled for her, Sid, and arrange for me to catch sight of her, if you can. Now you'd better take a little rest. You've been through an experience to-day. I'm going out to get busy, and I'm going to take Murk with me." "What for?" Murk demanded. "You're going to help me, old boy." "Me work with a cop?" Murk exclaimed. "To help Mr. Prale." "Well, that's different," Murk said. "Wait until I get my hat." CHAPTER X ON THE TRAIL Farland engaged a taxicab, bade Murk get into it, got in himself, and they started downtown. The detective leaned back against the cushions and regarded Murk closely. He knew that Sidney Prale had guessed correctly, that Murk was the sort of man who would prove loyal to a friend. "This is a bad business," Farland said. "It's tough," said Murk. "If it was anybody but Sid Prale, I'd say he was guilty. It sure looks bad. And there is that fountain pen!" "Somebody's tryin' to do him dirt," Murk said. "There's no question about that, Murk, old boy. Well, we are going to get him out of it, aren't we?" "I'll do anything I can." "Like him, do you?" "Met him less than twenty-four hours ago, but I wish I'd met him or somebody like him ten years ago," Murk replied. "If it hadn't been for Mr. Prale, I'd be a stiff up in the morgue this minute." "Strong for him, are you?" "Yes, sir, I am!" "Um!" said Jim Farland. "We're going to get along fine together. I was strong for Sid Prale ten years ago, before he went away. And I'll bet that, when we get to the bottom of this, we'll find something mighty interesting." The taxicab stopped at a corner, and Farland and Murk got out. Farland paid the chauffeur and watched him drive away, and then he led Murk around the corner. "Know where you are?" he asked. "Sure. Right over there is the little shop where Mr. Prale bought me my new clothes," Murk said. "Fine! That goes to show that Prale told the truth. Well, Murk, you stand right here by the curb and watch the front door of that shop. And when you see me beckon to you, you come running." "Yes, sir." Jim Farland hurried across the street, opened the door of the little shop, and entered. The proprietor came from the rear room when he heard the door slammed.