he was brought up
in front of me afterwards, I realized the serious predicament I was in."

He turned to Slavin. "Sergeant!" he went on: "I'll admit I was feeling
pretty queer when you were examining that man--especially about the
smelling of drink business. I'd slipped him a snort of whiskey after
you'd gone down to Doctor Cox's to get those papers signed. I told him
to keep his mouth shut if he was questioned about any horse or man--and
that I'd get him off if he obeyed my instructions. Of course he didn't
know what all this was for. He had no opportunity of knowing--never did
know, though I fancy he thought it was a case of horse-stealing. Anyway,
my promises and the drink made him my ally at once. Only human nature
for him to side with me against the Police. As you know, Sergeant, you
can get more definite results from that class of man by a drink bribe
than by all the threats and promises in the world.

"My original intention in taking him out to my place was to slip him
twenty dollars or so, and head him adrift westward, and so out of things.
But after we got home and I put the proposition up to him, the beggar
began to assert himself and get bold and saucy--tried to blackmail me for
an unheard of amount--threatening he'd go and tell you everything if I
didn't come across, and all that. Finally I lost my temper with him and
gave him a good slap across the face. He happened to be outside the
house bucking wood at the time, and, when I hit him, he came for me with
the axe. I only jumped back just in time, as he struck. I threw down on
him and put him out of business right-away then, realizing I was up
against it."

Gully halted for a space and leaned his head in his hands. "God!" he
muttered presently, "what nights I've had! I've killed many men in my
time, but those two--I hated framing up all that business on you fellows
next day--those tracks and the bill-folder, and all that useless chasing
for a week, but it seemed to me to be the only plausible bluff I could
run on you, under the circumstances. Now, are there any more things you
don't understand? Any questions you'd like to ask me?"

"Yes!" queried Slavin. "How did you get to Calgary that night--after
you'd missed the nine-thirty eastbound. Jump a freight, or what? You
were seen to get on the train. . . ."

"I know that," said Gully slowly, "I did it for a blind. I walked
through the coaches and slipped out again at the far end of the