. Yes,
sir, it's returned to the loving hands of little Joe Bland, that brought
it here first. It ain't going to roam no more. So what's the use of your
sticking around?"

"How did you get hold of it?" inquired Mr. Lou Max.

"I had my eye on this little professor person," explained Mr. Bland.
"This morning when Magee went up the mountain I trailed the high-brow to
Magee's room. When I busted in, unannounced by the butler, he was making
his getaway. I don't like to talk about what followed. He's an old man,
and I sure didn't mean to break his glasses, nor scratch his dome of
thought. There's ideas in that dome go back to the time of Anthony J.
Chaucer. But--he's always talking about that literature chair of
his--why couldn't he stay at home and sit in it? Anyhow, I got the
bundle all right, all right. I wonder what the little fossil wants with
it."

"The Doc's glasses _was_ broke," said Max, evidently to the mayor of
Reuton.

"Um-m," came Cargan's voice. "Bland, how much do you make working for
this nice kind gentleman, Mr. Hayden?"

"Oh, about two thousand a year, with pickings," replied Bland.

"Yes?" went on Mr. Cargan. "I ain't no Charles Dana Gibson with words.
My talk's a little rough and sketchy, I guess. But here's the outline,
plain as I can make it. Two thousand a year from Hayden. Twenty thousand
in two seconds if you hand that package to me."

"No," objected Bland. "I've been honest--after a fashion. I can't quite
stand for that. I'm working for Hayden."

"Don't be a fool," sneered Max.

"Of course," said the mayor, "I appreciate your scruples, having had a
few in my day myself, though you'd never think so to read the _Star_.
But look at it sensible. The money belongs to me. If you was to hand it
over you'd be just doing plain justice. What right has Hayden on his
side? I did what was agreed--do I get my pay? No. Who are you to defeat
the ends of justice this way? That's how you ought to look at it. You
give me what's my due--and you put twenty thousand in your pocket by an
honest act. Hayden comes. He asks for the bundle. You point to the
dynamited safe. You did your best."

"No," said Bland, but his tone was less firm. "I can't go back on
Hayden. No--it wouldn't--"

"Twenty thousand," repeated Cargan. "Ten years' salary the way you're
going ahead at present. A lot of money for a young man. If I was you I
wouldn't hesitate a minute. Think. What's Hayden ever done for you?
He'll throw you down