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"I have been trying to think out how I might," said Jimmy, "but the more I think
about it the more damning the circumstantial evidence against me appears."
"There must always be a motive for a crime like that," said Harriet. "I cannot
believe that a simple fear of his discharge would be sufficient motive for any man
to kill his employer."
"
"
Not to kill a man who had been as good to me as Mr. Compton was," said Jimmy,
or a man whom I admired so much as I did him. As a matter of fact, he was not
going to discharge me, Miss Holden, and I had an opportunity there for a very
successful future; but now that he is dead there is no one who could verify such a
statement on my part."
"
Who could there be, then, who might wish to kill him, and what could the motive
be?"
"I can only think," said Jimmy, "of one man; and even in his case the idea is too
horrible--too preposterous to be entertained."
Harriet Holden looked up at him quickly, a sudden light in her eyes, and an
expression of almost horrified incredulity upon her face. "You don't mean--" she
started.
"I wouldn't even use his name in connection with the thought," Jimmy
interrupted; "but he is the only man of whom I know who could have profited by
Mr. Compton's death, and, on the other hand, whose entire future would have
been blasted possibly had Mr. Compton lived until the following morning."
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