any reasonable amount of
money which may be needed. In fact, I think it would be a good idea to
give Mr. Wright a hint of your discovery, when I'm quite sure he'd view
this whole affair in a different light."

"We'll keep the secret a while longer. I'd rather get out of the scrape
before folks know what we've found, an' then settle old scores. Now,
Fred, s'pose we go to see Sam?"

"I'll walk to the jail with you, and you can wait until I have
despatched an officer to Farley's for the Dobson boy."

The fact that Lawyer Hunter had come with the visitors insured them
every facility for seeing their friend, and the three met in the
turnkey's room with the knowledge that they might be together the entire
day.

Poor Sam looked forlorn, indeed, when he entered the apartment. It had
been so long since his friend's last visit that he fancied they were
deserting him.

His appearance changed decidedly when they explained the reason for
their absence, and two hours were spent in giving a detailed account of
all that had happened since his departure from Farley's.

Then, forgetting the present troubles, the three talked of the day when
they would be mine owners instead of laborers, and built so many air
castles that neither heeded the passage of time until Mr. Hunter
returned with the information that an officer had visited Farley's only
to find the superintendent looking anxiously for Gus.

"It seems that Mr. Wright took the boy home last night, and, believing
in his protestations of innocence despite your testimony, left him
unguarded. As might have been expected, he took advantage of this
credulity to make his escape, and now I fancy it will be many days
before he re-visits this part of the country."

"Then all we have done goes for nothing," Fred said, mournfully.

"In that you are very greatly mistaken. Thorpe will be acquitted beyond
a doubt, and it is not likely Mr. Wright dare press any charge against
you at present. I shall go with you to Farley's, after Sam is released
on bail, and guarantee matters will be set right."

"Am I to go out?" Sam asked in surprise.

"As soon as it can be arranged. Your friends are to accompany me, and
the matter can be accomplished very quickly."

Fred was amazed at the ease with which all this was done. He and Joe
went before a magistrate, and repeated under oath the story they had
told so often; two friends of Mr. Hunter's signed a paper to which the
other's names had already