"That's what I'll do as soon as I can," Farland replied. "If I can get my eyes on her once, I'll trail her and find out a few things. She may have nothing to do with this, and she may have a great deal to do with it. What do you know about George Lerton?" "Shady broker," the captain replied. "Never done anything outside the law, as far as I know, but he's come pretty close to it. I'd hate to have him handling my money." "Well, he lied about meeting Prale. He did his best to get Prale to run away from town. That was a couple of hours before the murder, of course, so it probably had nothing to do with that. But why should he try to get Prale out of town? And, being a man of that sort, why did he say that he wouldn't handle Prale's funds? You'd think a man of his sort would like nothing better than to get his fingers tangled up in that million." "I'll have a man take a look at George Lerton." "Don't strain yourself," said Jim Farland. "I'm going to take a look at him myself, the first thing to-morrow morning." He left headquarters with Murk, and this time he did not engage a taxicab. He walked up the street, Murk at his side, and puffed at a cigar furiously. "Well, Murk, we've made a good start," Farland said, after a time. "Yes, sir." "How do you like working with a detective now?" "Aw, you ain't a regular detective," Murk said. "What's that?" "I mean you ain't an ordinary dick. You got some sense." "Thanks for the compliment. I know men who would dispute the statement," Farland told him. They walked and walked, and after a time were on Fifth Avenue and going toward the hotel where Prale had his suite. Suddenly, just ahead of them, they saw Sidney Prale and the man from headquarters. They hurried to catch up with them. "What's the idea?" Farland asked. "Needed a walk," Prale replied. "Didn't feel like going to bed, and a walk would do me good, I knew." "I'll have some things to tell you in the morning," Farland said. "But I'm not going to tell you to-night, except to say that it is good news, and I'm issuing orders to Murk not to tell you, either. I want you to forget the thing and get some rest." "All right," Prale said, laughing; and then he stopped still and gasped. "What is it?" Farland asked. "Kate Gilbert!" "Where?" "There--just getting into that limousine. See her? The girl with the red hat!" "I see her," Farland replied, signaling the chauffeur of a passing taxicab. "This is what I was hoping for, Sid. Go on to the hotel with Murk and guard. I'm going to find out a few things about Miss Kate Gilbert!" He gave the chauffeur of the taxicab whispered directions, and then sprang into the machine. CHAPTER XI CONCERNING KATE GILBERT