, and I told him all there was to tell,
including as good a description of the pony as I could give him.
We tried to hit on some plan to get word to those outside, but it
wasn't to be done. At least it was a point gained that some one
of our party besides myself knew where the letters were.

The sheriff returned presently with a loaf of canned bread and a
tin of beans. If I had been alone, I should have kicked at the
food and got permission for my darkies to send me up something
from 97; but I thought I'd see how Lord Ralles would like genuine
Western fare, so I said nothing. That, I have to state, is
more--or rather less--than the Britisher did, after he had
sampled the stuff; and really I don't blame him, much as I
enjoyed his rage and disgust.

It didn't take long to finish our supper, and then Fred, who
hadn't slept much the night before, stretched out on the floor
and went to sleep. Lord Ralles and I sat on boxes--the only
furniture the room contained--about as far apart as we could get,
he in the sulks, and I whistling cheerfully. I should have liked
to be with Madge, but he wasn't; so there was some compensation,
and I knew that time was playing the cards in our favor: so long
as they hadn't found the letters we had only to sit still to
win.

About an hour after supper, the sheriff came back and told me
Camp and Baldwin wanted to see me. I saw no reason to object, so
in they came, accompanied by the judge. Baldwin opened the ball
by saying genially,--

"Well, Mr. Gordon, you've played a pretty cute gamble, and I
suppose you think you stand to win the pot."

"I'm not complaining," I said.

"Still," snarled Camp, angrily, as if my contented manner fretted
him, "our time will come presently, and we can make it pretty
uncomfortable for you. Illegal proceedings put a man in jail in
the long run."

"I hope you take your lesson to heart," I remarked cheerfully,
which made Camp scowl worse than ever.

"Now," said Baldwin, who kept cool, "we know you are not risking
loss of position and the State's prison for nothing, and we want
to know what there is in it for you?"

"I wouldn't stake my chance of State's prison against yours,
gentlemen. And, while I may lose my position, I'll be a long way
from starvation."

"That doesn't tell us what Cullen gives you to take the risk."

"Mr. Cullen hasn't given, or even hinted that he'll give,
anything."

"And Mr. Gordon hasn't asked, and, if I know him, wouldn't tak