Albrecht. Winston chanced to pause for a moment at the cigar
stand to exchange a pleasant good-night word with the seemingly genial
clerk.

"You one of the actors?" questioned the latter, exhibiting some slight
interest.

The young man nodded indifferently, not feeling unduly proud of the
distinction.

"Sorry I couldn't have been there," the other went on cordially. "The
boys tell me you gave 'em a mighty fine show, but I 'm here to bet that
some of your people wish they 'd steered clear of San Juan."

"How's that?"

"Why, that fat fellow--what's his name?--oh, yes, Albrecht--the sheriff
was in here hunting him with some papers he had to serve, and it would
have made you laugh just to see that duck climb out when I met him
yonder on the street a few minutes ago, and gave him the highball.
Guest of the house, you know, and we did n't want him pinched in here;
besides, we understood he carried the scads for the rest of your bunch,
and we naturally wanted our share. The sheriff's out tryin' to find
him now; but Lord! the fellow 's safe enough out of the county by this
time, if he skipped the way I advised him he 'd better. There was an
extra ore train goin' down to Bolton to-night, and he just had time to
catch it on the run."

The dramatic situation slowly dawned on Winston while the clerk was
speaking.

"Do you mean to tell me Albrecht has actually skipped out?" he
questioned, anxiously. "Did he leave any money?"

"Sure; he paid your folks' board till Monday. You bet I looked after
that."

"Board till Monday!" and Winston totally forgot himself. "That is n't
salary, man; there is something infernally dirty about this whole deal.
Why, he took in over three thousand dollars to-night, and he's got all
of that, and at least a week's receipts besides--the infernal cur! Was
he alone?"

"Tall fellow with clipped black moustache, and bald head."

"Lane; I expected as much; they're birds of a feather. When can they
get out of the Junction?"

"Well, the first train scheduled goes east at four o'clock, but it 's
generally late."

Winston walked twice across the floor, alternately swearing and
thinking.

"Is there any way I could get there before that time?" he questioned,
finally, his square jaw setting firm.

"Well, I reckon you might, by goin' hossback across the old trail, but
you 'd need to have a guide in the dark, and you 'd find it a hell of a
hard ride."

The young engineer stood a moment st