' hoofs before the door announced
the approach of strangers, he absolutely ceased wiping his counter and
looked up as Dr. Guild, the President, and Secretary of the new Company
strode into the shop.

"We are looking," said the President, "for a man by the name of Wiles,
and three Mexicans known as Pedro, Manuel, and Miguel."

"Ye are?"

"We are!"

"Faix, and I hope ye'll foind 'em. And if ye'll git from 'em the score
I've got agin 'em, darlint, I'll add a blessing to it."

There was a laugh at this from the bystanders, who, somehow, resented
the intrusion of these strangers.

"I fear you will find it no laughing matter, gentlemen," said Dr. Guild,
a little stiffly, "when I tell you that a murder has been committed, and
the men I am seeking within an hour of that murder put up that notice
signed by their names," and Dr. Guild displayed the paper.

There was a breathless silence among the crowd as they eagerly pressed
around the Doctor. Only Roscommon kept on wiping his counter.

"You will observe, gentlemen, that the name of Roscommon also appears on
this paper as one of the original beaters."

"And sure, darlint," said Roscommon, without looking up, "if ye've no
better ividince agin them boys then you have forninst me, it's home ye'd
bether be riding to wanst. For it's meself as hasn't sturred fut out of
the store the day and noight,--more betoken as the boys I've sarved kin
testify."

"That's so, Ross, right," chorused the crowd, "We've been running the
old man all night."

"Then how comes your name on this paper?"

"O murdher! will ye listen to him, boys? As if every felly that owed
me a whisky bill didn't come to me and say, 'Ah, Misther Roscommon,' or
'Moike,' as the case moight be, sure it's an illigant sthrike I've made
this day, and it's meself that has put down your name as an original
locater, and yer fortune's made, Mr. Roscommon, and will yer fill me
up another quart for the good luck betune you and me. Ah, but ask Jack
Brown over yar if it isn't sick that I am of his original locations."

The laugh that followed this speech, and its practical application,
convinced the party that they had blundered, that they could obtain no
clue to the real culprits here, and that any attempt by threats would
meet violent opposition. Nevertheless the Doctor was persistent:

"When did you see these men last?"

"When did I see them, is it? Bedad, what with sarvin up the liquor and
keeping me counters dry an