"Well, he has a daughter, Miss Eva Strode. You must have read her name in the papers when the case was reported." "I did," said Parkins after a pause; "yes?" "I'm engaged to her." Parkins rose and looked astonished. "That's a queer start." "You'll hear of something queerer if you will answer my questions." "What sort of questions?" Allen debated within himself if he should trust Parkins all in all. It seemed a rash thing to do, and yet there was something about the man which showed that he would not break faith. Horace was just the sort of companion Allen needed to search after Butsey in the slums of Whitechapel. It was no good telling him anything, unless all were told, and yet Allen hesitated to bring in the name of his father. Finally he resolved to say as little as he could about him, and merely detail the broad facts of the murder, and of the theft of the hand, without mentioning names. "Parkins," he said frankly and with a keen look, "can I trust you?" "I guess so," said the big man serenely. "I mean what I say. You can take my word without oaths, I reckon." "Very well, then," said Allen with a sudden impulse to make a clean breast of it; "sit down again and answer a few questions." Horace dropped down heavily and loaded his pipe. While he was lighting up, he listened to Allen's questions. But Allen did not begin before he had explained the purpose of his inquiries. "I am engaged to Miss Strode," said Allen, "but she refuses to marry me until I learn who killed her father." "Very right and just," nodded Parkins. "Well, I'm trying to hunt out the criminal, and I should like you to help me." "I'm with you right along, Hill. Fire away with your questions." Allen began: "Did Mr. Strode ever tell you he had money?" "Yes. He made a lot in South Africa and not in the most respectable way. I don't like talking ill of the dead, and of the father of the girl you're going to make Mrs. Hill, but if I am to be truthful----" "I want you to be, at all costs. The issues are too great for anything false to be spoken." "Well then, I heard a lot about Strode in Africa before we steamed together in the _Dunoon Castle_. He made his money in shady ways." "Humph!" said Allen, "I'm not surprised, from what I've heard." "He was an I. D. B. if you want to get to facts." "What's that?" demanded Allen. "An illicit diamond buyer." "Can you explain?" "I guess so. Strode bought diamonds from any one who had them. If a Kaffir stole a jewel, and many of them do steal, you bet, Strode would buy it from him at a small price. He was on this lay for a long time, but was never caught. And yet I don't know," said Parkins half to himself, "that brute Jerry Train knew something of his doings!" Allen almost leaped from his seat. "Jerry! was he a big red-headed man--a ruffian?"