pected.

By this time all the cattle, both of the plainsmen and the mountaineers,
had gone back. The mill had commenced its season's operations. After the
routine of work had been well established, Bob had descended to attend
to certain grading of the lumber for a special sale of uppers. Thus he
found himself on the scene.

Ashley Thorne was driven in. He arrived late in the afternoon. Plant
with his coat on, and a jovial expression illuminating his fat face,
held out both hands in greeting as the vehicle came to a stop by
Martin's barn. The Inspector leaped quickly to the ground. He was seen
to be a man between thirty and forty, compactly built, alert in
movement. He had a square face, aggressive gray eyes, and wore a small
moustache clipped at the line of the lips.

"Hullo! Hullo!" roared Plant in his biggest voice. "So here we are, hey!
Kind of dry, hot travel, but we've got the remedy for that."

"How are you?" said Thorne crisply; "are you Mr. Plant? Glad to meet
you."

"Leave your truck," said Plant. "I'll send some one after it. Come right
along with me."

"Thanks," said Thorne, "but I think I'll take a wash and clean up a bit,
first."

"That's all right," urged Plant. "We can fix you up."

"Where is the hotel?" asked Thorne.

"Hotel!" cried Plant, "ain't you going to stay with me?"

"It is kind of you, and I appreciate it," said Thorne briefly, "but I
never mix official business with social pleasure. This is an invariable
rule and has no personal application, of course. After my official work
is done and my report written, I shall be happy to avail myself of your
hospitality."

"Just as you say, of course," said Plant, quite good-humouredly. To him
this was an extraordinarily shrewd, grand-stand play; and he approved of
it.

"I shall go to your office at nine to-morrow," Thorne advised him.
"Please have your records ready."

"Always ready," said Plant.

Thorne was assigned a room at Auntie Belle's, washed away the dust of
travel, and appeared promptly at table when the bell rang. He wore an
ordinary business suit, a flannel shirt with white collar, and hung on
the nail a wide felt hat. Nevertheless his general air was of an
out-of-door man, competent and skilled in the open. His manner was
self-contained and a trifle reserved, although he talked freely enough
with Bob on a variety of subjects.

After supper he retired to his room, the door of which, however, he left
open. Any one passing dow