the time. He figgers the feller young
Alec shot up was one of them--by name Peter Hara, of 'Frisco. The
other, we haven't seen, he reckons is 'Hand-out' Lal. Another 'Frisco
bum. But the police have had the wires going, and they can't track
fellers of that name in 'Frisco, or anywhere else. Still, it's a trail
they're hanging to amongst others. And I guess they're not quitting it
till they figger Josh is right for the bughouse. No," he added with a
trouble that would no longer be denied, "the whole thing is, Pap's
clear. There's not a thing points his way. It's the result of a dance
hall brawl, and we--why, we've just got to hand on the whole pitiful
racket to two lone women at the Fort."

For moments the two men looked into each other's eyes. Then Kars
started up. He began to pace the soft carpet with uneven strides.

Suddenly he paused. His emotions seemed to be again under control.

"It seems that way," he said, "unless Murray starts out before us."

"Murray's quit," Bill shook his head. "He'd quit the city before this
thing happened. The morning of the same day. His whole outfit pulled
out with him. He doesn't know a thing of this."

"I didn't know he'd quit." Kars stood beside the centre table gazing
down at the other.

"The police looked him up. They wanted to hold up the news from the
boy's folks till they'd investigated. He'd been gone twenty-four
hours."

"I hadn't a notion," Kars declared blankly. "I figgered to run him
down at Adler's." Then in a moment his feelings overcame his
restraint. "Then it's up to--me," he cried desperately. "It's up to
me, and it--scares me to death. Say--that poor child. That poor
little gal." Again he was pacing the room. "It's fierce, Bill! Oh,
God, it's fierce!"

Bill's gravely sympathetic eyes watched the rapid movements of the man
as he paced restlessly up and down. He waited for that calmness which
he knew was sure to follow in due course. When he spoke his tones had
gathered a careful moderation.

"Sure it's fierce," he said. Then he added: "Murray drives hard on the
trail. This story isn't even going to hit against his heels. Say,
John, you best let me hand this story on. Y'see my calling makes it
more in my line. A doctor's not always healing. There's times when
he's got to open up wounds. But he knows how to open 'em."

"Not on your life, Bill!" Kars' denial came on the instant. "I'm not
shirking a thing. I just love tha