"Where's the gat?" he asked.

"Whoever did this probably took it with him," said Jimmy. "Find the
watchman."

They made Jimmy sit down in a corner, and while one of them guarded him
the other called up central, made his report, and asked for an ambulance
and the wagon. Then O'Donnell commenced to examine the room. A moment
later he found an automatic behind the door across the room from where
Compton's body lay.

"Ever see this before?" asked O'Donnell, holding the pistol up to Jimmy.

"If you're asking me if it's mine, no," said Jimmy. "I have a gun, but
it's home. I never carry it. I didn't do this, O'Donnell," he continued.
"There was no reason why I should do it, so instead of wasting your time
on me while the murderer escapes you'd better get busy on some other
theory, too. It won't do any harm, anyway."

The wagon came and took Jimmy to the station, and later he was
questioned by the lieutenant in charge.

"You say this is not your pistol?" asked the police officer.

"It is not," replied Jimmy.

"You never saw it before?"

"No, I have not."