X - THE PHANTOM BUGLER––––––––
THE day after the funeral of Samuel Appleby, Keefe returned to Sycamore Ridge.
“I came, Mr. Wheeler,” he said, “to offer you my services. I express no opinion as to who killed Mr. Appleby, but I do know that his son is going to use every means to discover his father’s murderer, and I can’t help thinking you’d be wise to let me take up your case.”
“As a criminal lawyer?” asked Dan Wheeler, quietly.
“No, sir; as a friend and adviser. If you find you need a criminal lawyer, I’ll suggest one—and a good one. But I mean, I’d like to help you in a general way, by consultation and advice. You, if you will pardon me, have lived so long out of the modern world that you are unfitted to cope with this whole situation. I speak frankly—because I am deeply interested——”
