go and get a horse and ride over to the Almoran and find out what Wainwright knows, or doesn’t know about Pinder, MacPharlane, or Shaughnessy between the hours of nine o’clock Sunday night and ten o’clock Monday morning, I’ll pay the expenses, and you’ll be doing me a mighty big favor,” he ripped out with unusual vigor.

An hour later his friend had gone for a five-mile ride, and David, to all appearances was merely dawdling around the streets as if enjoying a spell of laziness and idleness But inwardly he was impatiently counting the hours that must reasonably elapse before he could expect word from his volunteer investigator. He had ample time to be impatient, because it was not until after dusk that his friend returned and betrayed his presence by a light in his cabin window, toward which David hastened within a few minutes after it became visible.

“Well?” he demanded as he closed the door behind him.

“Two of ’em ain’t accounted for, but one of ’em is,” the messenger answered. “Yes, one of ’em sure is, and that’s Pinder. He sat in the game with Bill Wainwright, and Bill can remember the days and dates and times, you can bet, because Pinder won two hundred and twenty of Bill’s hard-earned money. And, what’s more, he wasn’t satisfied to let go of Bill after they knocked off at ten o’clock Monday forenoon, but insisted on takin’ Bill to breakfast and wanted him to have another sit-in to get his revenge. Nope. Bill and that guy Pinder didn’t part company till about noon when Bill pulled out for the mine. Now, about the other two. Bill didn’t see them either Sunday night or Monday mornin’; but if you want me to make some more inquiries, Dave, I’ll see⸺”

“No, use. Don’t bother about them,” David interrupted. “And don’t say anything to anybody about my ever having been nosing around. I’ve learned all I have to know for the present. And—I’ve got to go now. Going back to our mine first thing in the morning. Play even with you some time for this. I’ll say you’ve done me a good turn all right and I don’t forget.”

He was out of the door almost before he had finished his sentence and within half an hour, having an early start in view, was in his bed. Furthermore so early was that next morning’s start that it was not yet noon when he was driven up to the cabin which was his destination and was greeting Rosita Mills and complaining of hunger.

“And you may as well lay in plans, Rosy,” he said to Mrs. Mills, “to take care of the man from the livery stable down in Wallula, because 

 Prev. P 14/19 next