me. I've nothing to
conceal, and wouldn't mind a regiment of you fellows if you'd only
play a straight game. But when it comes to foisting upon me a parcel of
letters to which I have no right, and then setting a fellow like you to
count my groans or whatever else they expected to hear, I have a right
to defend myself, and defend myself I will, by God! But first, let me be
sure that my accusations will stand. Come into this closet with me. It
abuts on the wall of my room and has its own secret, I know. What is it?
I have you at an advantage now, and you shall tell."

He did have Sweetwater at an advantage, and the detective knew it and
disdained a struggle which would have only called up a crowd, friendly
to the other but inimical to himself. Allowing Brotherson to drag him
into the closet, he stood quiescent, while the determined man who held
him with one hand, felt about with the other over the shelves and along
the partitions till he came to the hole which had offered such a happy
means of communication between the two rooms. Then, with a laugh
almost as bitter in tone as that which rang from Brotherson's lips, he
acknowledged that business had its necessities and that apologies from
him were in order; adding, as they both stepped out into the rapidly
darkening room:

"We've played a bout, we two; and you've come out ahead. Allow me to
congratulate you, Mr. Brotherson. You've cleared yourself so far as I am
concerned. I leave this ranch to-night."

The frown had come back to the forehead of the indignant man who
confronted him.

"So you listened," he cried; "listened when you weren't sneaking under
my eye! A fine occupation for a man who can dove-tail a corner like an
adept. I wish I had let you join the brotherhood you were good enough to
mention. They would know how to appreciate your double gifts and how
to reward your excellence in the one, if not in the other. What did the
police expect to learn about me that they should consider it necessary
to call into exercise such extraordinary talents?"

"I'm not good at conundrums. I was given a task to perform, and I
performed it," was Sweetwater's sturdy reply. Then slowly, with his eye
fixed directly upon his antagonist, "I guess they thought you a man.
And so did I until I heard you burn those letters. Fortunately we have
copies."

"Letters!" Fury thickened the speaker's voice, and lent a savage gleam
to his eye. "Forgeries! Make believes! Miss Challoner never