h a resigned air, but when, amid exclamations of
wonder, another officer appeared mysteriously from somewhere to slip on
the handcuffs, Fletcher hurled a decanter into his face and sprang wildly
for the door. He passed within a yard of where I stood. I could have
stopped him readily with an outstretched foot or hand, but I did neither,
and there was an uproar as he plunged down the stairway with an officer
close behind him. The detective saw his other prisoners handcuffed before
he followed, and though he said nothing he gazed at me reproachfully.
When we stood at the head of the stairs he chuckled as he pointed below.

"Your friend hasn't got very far," he said dryly.

It was true enough, for in the hall a stalwart constable sat on the chest
of a fallen man who apparently strove to bite him, and I saw that the
latter was Thomas Fletcher. I had clearly been guilty of a dereliction of
the honest citizen's duty, but for all that I did not like the manner in
which he said, "Your friend."

We returned to the station, and later in the day I entertained Robertson
and Heysham with the best luncheon I could procure, when for once we drank
success to Number Forty in choice vintages.

"I can't sufficiently thank you, Heysham," I said when we shook hands.
"Now, advise me about those cattle; and is there anything I can do for
you?"

"Enjoyed the fun," was the answer, "and you gave me a free passage to
Winnipeg. I didn't do it for that reason, but if you like to leave the
disposal of those beasts to Ross & Grant, highest-class salesmen,
promptest settlements, etc., I shall be pleased to trade with you. Sorry
to intrude business, but after all I'm a drummer, and one must earn one's
bread and butter--see?"

I had much pleasure in agreeing, and Ross & Grant sold those beasts to my
complete satisfaction and Jasper's as well, while that was but the
beginning of a profitable connection with them, and an acquaintance with
Heysham, who was from the first a friend of Aline's and is now sole
partner in the firm. Still, though I returned to Fairmead with the
proceeds, satisfied, it transpired that Thomas Fletcher was not yet past
doing me a further injury.

CHAPTER XXIII

ON THE GOLD TRAIL

Nothing further of moment happened for a time. Fletcher, protesting his
innocence, lay awaiting trial with his accomplices, and I had been warned
that I should be called on to give evidence, which I was unwilling to do;
and, after consult