stions as to recent
visitors, apparently referring to criminals who had lodged at the farm.
They talked quite openly while Archie unpacked his bag. The restless
activity of the folk of the underworld, their methods of communication
and points of rendezvous seemed part of a vast system and he was ashamed
of his enormous interest in all he saw and heard. The Governor's cool
fashion of talking of the world of crime and its denizens almost
legitimatized it, made it appear a recognized part of the accepted
scheme of things. Walker aroused the Governor's deepest interest by
telling of the visit of Pete Barney, a diamond thief, who had lately
made a big haul in Chicago, and had been passed along from one point of
refuge to another. The Governor asked particularly as to the man's
experiences and treatment on the road, and whether he had complained of
the hospitality extended by any of the agents of the underground.

"You needn't worry about him," said Walker, with a shrug. "He asks for
what he wants."

"Sorry if he made himself a nuisance. I'll give warning to chain the
gates toward the North. Is he carrying the sparks with him?"

"Lets 'em shine like a fool. I told 'im to clear out with 'em."

"You did right. The brothers in the West must be more careful about
handing out tickets. Now trot Red up here and we'll transact a little
business."

Leary appeared a moment later and Archie was about to leave the room,
but the Governor insisted stoutly that he remain.

"I'm anxious for you and Red to know that I trust both of you fully."

"What's the young brother,--a con?" asked Leary with a glance at Archie.

To be referred to as a confidence man by a gentleman of Leary's
professional eminence gave Archie a thrill. The Governor answered by
drawing up his sleeves and going through the motions of washing his
hands.

"Does the hawk follow fast?" Leary asked, as he proceeded to fill his
pipe.

"The shadow hasn't fallen, but we watch the sky," returned the Governor.

The brushing of the hands together Archie interpreted as a code sign
signifying murder and the subsequent interchange of words he took to be
inquiry and answer as to the danger of apprehension. He felt that
Leary's attitude toward him became friendlier from that moment. There
was something ghastly in the thought that as the slayer of a human being
he attained a certain dignity in the eyes of men like Leary. But he
became interested in the transaction that was now