s bin here right along, Sarjint! why?--what's
up?"

Slavin evaded the direct question for the moment. Silently awhile he
gazed at the three wondering faces. "Now, I'll tell yez!" he said
slowly. And briefly he informed them of the murder--omitting all detail
of the clues obtained later. They listened with wide eyes and broke out
into startled exclamations. The prisoner struggled up from the chair,
his bruised, ghastly face registering fear and genuine astonishment.
Redmond shoved him back again.

"If any feller thinks--" Moran relapsed into maudlin, hysterical
protestations of innocence, calling upon the Deity to bear witness that
he was innocent and had no knowledge whatever of how Blake came to his
death.

Eventually silence fell upon all. Slavin cogitated awhile, then he
turned to Brophy. "Who else was in, Billy? Out av town fellers I mean,
fwhin this racket occurred betune these tu? Thry an' think now!"

Brophy pondered long and presently reeled off a few names. Slavin heard
him out and shook his head negatively. "Nothin' doin' there!" he
announced finally, "Mr. Gully was in, yuh say? Did he see anythin' av
this row?"

"Cudn't help it, I guess," replied Brophy. "He just come inta th' office
for his grip while it was a-goin' on. He beat it out quick for th'
East-bound as had just come in. Said he was runnin' down to Calgary. He
ain't back yet. Guess he wudn't want to go gettin' mixed up in anythin'
like that, either--him bein' a J. P."

Slavin looked at Yorke. "Let's have a luk at that gun av Moran's!" he
remarked. "Fwhat is ut?"

Yorke handed the weapon over. "'Smith and Wesson' single-action," he
said. "Just that one round gone."

"Nothin doin' agin'," muttered Slavin disappointedly. He broke the gun
and, ejecting the shells put all in his pocket. He then turned to Moran.
"D----d good job for yu'--havin' this alibi, Mister Windy!" he growled,
"don't seem anythin' on yu' over this killin'--as yet! But yez are goin'
tu get ut fwhere th' bottle got th' cork for this other bizness, me man!"

And he proceeded to formally charge and warn his prisoner.

"Give us a room, Brophy!" he said, "a big wan for th' bunch av us--an'
lave a shake-down on th' flure for this feller!"

Preceded by the landlord the trio departed upstairs, escorting their
prisoner. Alone in the room they discussed matters in lowered tones;
Slavin and Yorke not forgetting to compliment Redmond on his presence of
min