He motioned for the other man to leave, which he did immediately, closing the hall door behind him. Then the masked man sat down in the chair by the table. Farland was watching him closely now. The collar of his coat and the handkerchief mask effectually shielded his face and head. But, as Murk had told, this man did not have the common sense to cover his hands, and Farland looked at them when he could, careful not to let the other suspect his object. "I am the man who talked to Mr. Prale's valet last night," Farland heard the other say. "In some manner, the valet escaped, and so we were obliged to have you brought here instead of to the place where we had him, and which was considerably nearer the city. I regret it if the long ride annoyed you, but you will appreciate that it was necessary for my men to bind and gag you." "It certainly was if they expected to get me here!" Jim Farland declared. He heard the masked man chuckle. "I understand that you have been engaged by Sidney Prale to clear him of the charge of murdering Rufus Shepley." "I don't mind admitting that, since the whole city knows it," said Farland. "And also to aid Sidney Prale in outwitting certain persons who are trying to punish him for something he did." "I don't know anything about that. I do know that some people are trying to make things hot for Sid Prale, and he doesn't deserve it, and----" "Pardon me, if I interrupt!" the masked man said. "You say that he does not deserve it. Do you believe that influential persons would persecute him if he did not deserve it?" "Sid Prale doesn't know what it is all about!" "That is what he told the valet, too. But believe me when I say that he does know what it is all about, and is deceiving you when he says otherwise." "What has all this to do with me?" Jim Farland demanded. "Did you have me brought here to argue the case with me?" "I had you brought here because I want you to cease working for Sidney Prale. I want you to go back to him and tell him that you are done." "As Coadley, the attorney, did?" "Exactly!" "Your people must be men of influence if they can buy off Coadley like that!" "Perhaps Coadley was shown that it would wreck his future if he continued working for Prale." "Well, you can't wreck my future, because I haven't any," Farland told him. "Do not be too sure of that, Mr. Farland. Agree to my proposition and you may have a great future. You may find business thrown your way. You may find yourself able to spread out, have a protective service, become a wealthy man. If you give up the Prale case, we'll see that you are paid cash immediately, of course, in lieu of the fee you would receive from Prale--and considerably more than he would pay you."