onstrate his get-away. He is an insect an' to
the insects he goes from here. He has stung us an' it is now his turn
to git stung. I have grea--at pleasure in callin' upon the Perfessor."

As he finished speaking there issued from the log shanty a struggling
group. Dragging between them in no gentle fashion a kicking, screaming
prisoner, came Red McIvor and the German. They kicked him forward into
the arms of the waiting men at the post, to which he was bound quickly
from feet to waist. The firelight played upon the prisoner's distorted
features as he begged them to let him go. His pleadings were greeted
with shouts of laughter.

Kendrick clutched McCorquodale's arm in sudden excitement.

"By the eternal, it's Hughey Podmore!" he gasped in disbelief.
"They've caught Podmore with that bogus money on him! That's what he
means."

"There's Stiles--the one they're bringin' out now," whispered
McCorquodale, pointing to a second prisoner who was being hustled out
to witness the performance. His hands were tied behind his back and
the man who had him in charge shoved him roughly to a sitting posture
and pointed towards the post.

Kendrick's face was tense at he watched. His eyes smouldered with cold
fire.

CHAPTER XX

A MAN OF MONEY

McIvor, the leader of the crew, was holding out the envelope taken from
the stump and saying something to the first prisoner. They could not
catch the words at that distance. Podmore shook his head and renewed
his pleadings. The only response to these was an oath and a cruel blow
on the mouth from the enraged ruffian, who now issued a sharp command.

Two of his men sprang at the prisoner and in a trice had stripped him
to the skin from the waist up. They tore his shirt to ribbons. A jerk
of McIvor's hand brought a third man on the run, carrying a tin can.
He began to smear the contents over the back and chest and arms of the
shrieking prisoner. While the onlookers rocked with drunken laughter
Red McIvor peeled bill after bill from the roll of stage money in his
hand and plastered them to the prisoner's naked body with resounding
slaps.

"Tar an' feathers up to date--spruce gum an' greenbacks!" mumbled the
detective. "Hear that feller yell!"

Kendrick's eyes were ablaze. He whipped out his revolver, his teeth
clenched.

"McCorquodale, we can't sit here and see him killed in front of our
eyes. This thing's gone far enough. I'm going out there----" But the
de