since the shock of Mr. Nolan's "mind-reading" the night before,
Casey ventured a suggestion. "Anybody comes along, it's the kegs
they'd look at cross-eyed. Cushions is expected in Fords--if I ain't
buttin' in," he added meekly.

"Which you're not. You're acting as my agent now, Ryan, and it will
take two heads to put this over without a hitch. Sure, put the kegs
out of sight first. The bottles next--and then we'll make short work
of the dope in the cushion."

Casey carried in the kegs while Nolan kept watch for inopportune
visitors. It was thought inadvisable to unload the camp outfit from
the car until the whisky was all removed. The outfit effectually hid
what was below--and they were taking no chances. They both breathed
freer when the two kegs were in the cellar. Nolan was pleased; too,
when Casey came out with the sample bag and announced that he would
carry the bottles in the bag. Then Nolan fancied he heard a car, and
walked away to where he would have a longer view down the gulch. He
would whistle, he said, and warn Casey if someone was coming.

He had not proceeded fifty yards when Casey yelled and brought him back
at a run. Casey was rummaging in the car, throwing things about with a
recklessness which ill-became an agent of the self-possessed Mack Nolan.

"There ain't a damn' bottle here!" he bellowed indignantly. "Them
crooks gypped me outa ten gallons uh good, bottle whisky! Now what do
you know about that, Mr. Nolan? That feller said it was high-grade
stuff he had packed away at the bottom. He lied. There ain't nothin'
here but a set uh skid chains an' a jack. An' the champagne, mebby,
under the front seat!"

Mack Nolan's eyes narrowed. "I think Ryan, I'll have a look under that
front seat."

He had a look--several looks, in fact. There was the false bottom
under the seat, but there was nothing in it. He took his pocket knife,
opened a blade and split the edge of the seat-cushion at the bottom. He
inserted a finger and thumb and drew out a bit of hair stuffing. He
stood up and eyed Casey sharply, and Casey stared back defensively.

"He was a darned liar from start t' finish. He said there was
champagne an' he said there was hop," Casey stated flatly.

"I wondered at his letting go of stuff as valuable as that," said
Nolan. "I think we'd better take a look at those kegs."

They went into the cellar and took a look at the kegs. Both kegs.
Afterward they stood and looked at each ot