s for extension standing over
until I could give my mind to them. I may be able to do so soon, and
expect to consult you and Featherstone. In the meantime, I got your
telegram and another that to some extent put me wise. But I want a
full account, beginning when you left."

Foster told his story, and when he stopped, Hulton pondered for a
minute or two. He somehow looked more human than on Foster's last
visit; his stern vindictiveness was not so obvious, but Foster thought
he would demand full retribution. Then he said--

"You are keeping something back; I reckon you haven't taken these
chances on my account. There's something behind all this that concerns
you--or your partner--alone. Well, I guess that's not my business."

He paused and resumed in a curt, businesslike manner: "Daly's tale is
plausible and may be true, but I have my doubts. Anyhow, I'm not going
to believe it because that doesn't suit my plans. We'll have Walters
tried for murder."

"Although you admit he may be innocent!" exclaimed Foster. "It ought
to be enough to charge him with trying to kill Featherstone and
stealing your bonds. You have no evidence to convict him of the other
crime."

Hulton smiled. "I don't care two bits if he's convicted or not. I
want to clear my boy's name and put you into the witness-box."

"But you can't make me adapt my story to fit your charge, and the
defending lawyer would object to Daly's account as hearsay and not
evidence. The judge would rule it out."

"I guess so," Hulton agreed. "For all that, it would have some effect,
and the judge couldn't rule it out before it was heard." He knitted
his brows and looked hard at Foster. "I'm going to prove that Fred was
robbed and was not the thief, and though I don't think Walters will be
convicted, he must take his chance. He was one of the gang that caused
my son's death, and when he tried to kill your partner knew what he was
up against."

Foster thought this was frontier justice and urged another objection.

"After all, the matter's in the hands of the police. You can't dictate
the line they ought to take."

Percival, the treasurer, smiled, and Hulton answered with some dryness:
"That's true, in a way. But I have some influence, which will be used
for all it's worth. Anyhow, I've got to be consulted. If it hadn't
been for my agents, the police wouldn't have made much progress yet.
However, we'll let this go. It may interest you to know th