I'll be glad if we ever solve this confounded mystery. It's
getting on my nerves."

They remained up until one o'clock in the morning, but Jim Farland
neither visited the hotel again nor called them up, and so they went to
bed.

They did not rise early, but had breakfast in the suite and took their
time about eating it. After that, they waited for Farland to arrive or
telephone and give orders and tell news. Farland did not come, but
Attorney Coadley did.

Murk admitted him, and the distinguished criminal lawyer sat in the
window beside Prale, a grave expression on his face, his manner that of
a disconcerted man.

"I gather you do not bring good news, judging from your countenance,"
Prale said.

"At least, I have not come to say that the case against you is any
stronger," Coadley replied. "I'd like to speak to you alone, Mr. Prale."

"Certainly. You may go into the other room, Murk, and remain until I
call."

Murk obeyed, and Sidney Prale bent forward in his chair and looked at
the attorney again, wondering what this visit meant, what was coming,
half fearing that the news would be ill after all.

"Mr. Prale," Coadley said, "I have come here to your apartment to tell
you that I wish you to get another attorney."

"I beg your pardon!" Prale gasped.

"I wish to withdraw from the case, Mr. Prale--that is all. An attorney
does that frequently, you know."

"But I want you to handle my case," Prale said. "I have been given to
understand that you are one of the foremost criminal lawyers in the
city. And you have done so much already----"

"I insist that I withdraw, Mr. Prale. I shall be ethical. I shall give
the man you name in my place all the knowledge at my command regarding
this case, and I shall see that the change does not embarrass you or
place you in jeopardy. The court will grant extensions if they are
necessary."

"Farland has given me to understand that my alibi now is of such a
nature that the case against me may be dismissed. I had hoped that you
had come here this morning to tell me so."

"I fancy that any good attorney can get the charge dismissed," Coadley
said.

"But I do not want to be freed under a cloud. I want the public to be
sure I did not kill Rufus Shepley--I want to have the public know the
identity of the man who did."

"That is what I thought, and that will take considerable time, perhaps,"
Coadley said. "And so I wish to withdraw----"

"If it is a question of fee----"

"No