"
"Good heavens, you certainly didn't suspect a prominent and respected
citizen like Mr. Rivers of receiving stolen goods?" Farnsworth demanded,
aghast.
"Who respects him?" Rand hooted. "Rivers was a notorious swindler; he
had that reputation among arms-collectors all over the country. He was
expelled from membership in the National Rifle Association for
misrepresentation and fraud. Why, he even swindled Lane Fleming on a pair
of fake pistols, a week or so before Fleming's death. And the very reason
why your man Olsen was inclined to suspect Stephen Gresham was that he
had had trouble with Rivers about a crooked deal Rivers had put over on
him. Fortunately, Mr. Gresham has since been cleared of any suspicion,
but--"
"Who says he's been cleared?" Farnsworth snapped. "He's still a suspect."
"Sergeant McKenna says so," Corporal Kavaalen declared. "He has been
cleared. I guess we just didn't get around to telling you about that."
He went on to explain about the long distance call that had furnished
Stephen Gresham's alibi.
"And Gresham was at home from nine twenty-two on," Rand added. "There are
eight witnesses to that: His wife and daughter; myself; Captain Jarrett,
here; and his fiancee, Miss Lawrence; Philip Cabot; Adam Trehearne; Colin
MacBride.
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