's about the only
point we did agree on. I'm showing you that I don't agree with you now,
even on that point. That being the case, you've got to--show _me_."
Starr emphasized the last two words by stabbing at his breast with the
cigar.

"The idea is, Mr. Starr, you believe that I framed a fake robbery, or
something that looked like a robbery, in order to cover myself." Frank
stood up and spoke hotly.

Mr. Starr jumped up and was just as heated in his retort. "Yes!"

"But the whole thing--the muddling of the bank's books--the disks--a man
shoving himself into the vault--I'd have to be a lunatic to perform in
that fashion!"

"They say there's nothing new under the sun! There is, just the same!
Some crook is thinking up a new scheme every day!"

"By the gods, you shall not call me a crook!"

"You, yourself, are drawing that inference. But I don't propose to deal
in inferences--"

"Starting in the first day you struck this town, hounding me on account
of matters I had no knowledge of, Mr. Starr, was drawing a damnable
inference."

"It has been backed up by some mighty good evidence!"

"What is your evidence?"

The examiner blew a cloud of smoke, then he fanned the screen away and
squinted at Vaniman. "If you ever hear of me giving away the state's
case in any matter where I'm concerned you'll next hear of me committing
suicide by locking myself into a bank vault. Calm down, Mr. Cashier!"

Starr walked close to Vaniman and tapped a stubby forefinger against
the young man's heaving breast. "I'm going to give you a chance, young
fellow! I staged that little play a few moments ago so that you'd see
what a fool house of cards you're living in! I hope you noted carefully
that we did not need to go off the premises for any of our props. I,
myself, had noted in your case that everything that was used came from
the premises. Real robbers usually bring their own stuff. Even that
chloroform--"

"I know nothing about the chloroform, sir."

"Well, the vial was here that night, anyway! It's a small thing to waste
time on! I don't profess to be at the bottom of the affair, Vaniman.
I'll admit that it looks as if there's a lot behind this thing--plenty
that is interesting. I've got my full share of human curiosity. I'd like
to be let in on this thing, first hand. Now come across clean! The whole
story! Tell me where the coin is! It's certainly a queer case, and there
must be some twist in it where I can do you a good turn.