ur friends deal too
much in accidents! It was by an accident Walters left Featherstone on
the snow _couloir_."

"It doesn't matter if you disbelieve me; this is what happened," Daly
rejoined. "My friend--we'll call him the man--went to the office late
in the evening and after some talk, covered Hulton with his pistol.
The lad had had some trouble about his debts, because the old man would
have fired him out of the business if he'd heard of them, and his nerve
wasn't good. He opened the safe when he was told and the man took the
bonds and went out of the office, leaving Hulton in his chair. We
don't know what the lad thought, but perhaps he saw he would be
suspected or was ashamed of not showing more grit. Anyhow, when the
man was on the stairs Hulton came up behind and told him to stop. He
had a pistol, but looked strained and nervous, and the other, who had
put his away, made a rush at him. Hulton slipped on the steps, his
pistol went off, and when he rolled to the bottom the other saw he was
dead."

Foster was silent for a time. The story was, on the whole, plausible,
and although he did not see why Daly had told it him, he thought he
spoke the truth. So far he had been clearing the ground and had not
reached his object yet, but Daly showed no inclination to hurry him.
They were not likely to be disturbed, and although the rocking of the
car and throb of wheels indicated that the train was running fast, the
next station was some distance ahead. There was moonlight outside and
he saw towering rocks and masses of dark trees roll past.

"Well," he remarked, "you have had a strange career. Leading a gang of
swindlers must have been a change from helping a philanthropist."

Daly smiled rather grimly. "For a long time I served a strange man.
Philanthropy loses its charm when it becomes a business and results are
demanded from all the money given. Then my pay was arranged on the
surmise that to be engaged in such an occupation was reward enough, and
something must be allowed for the natural reaction. As a matter of
fact, I'm not surprised that Featherstone robbed my employer. He
deserved it; but I think we can let that go."

Foster nodded and was silent. Perhaps it was because the excitement of
the chase was over, but he felt dull and tired. He had no sympathy
with Daly; the fellow was a rogue, but he had pluck and charm. In a
sense, it was unnatural that they should be talking quietly and almost
con