sheriff. I was in Langham's office late yesterday and John North was
there; he left to go to McBride's. Conklin's been looking for him this
morning, but he can't find him, and no one seems to know what's become
of him. Do you follow me?"

"What's North got to do with it, boss?"

"How do you know it wasn't North you saw in the alley?" urged Gilmore.

"It were not!" said Joe Montgomery positively.

"You saw the man's face?"

"As plain as I see yours!"

"And you know the man?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll tell you who you saw," said the gambler coolly; "it was
Marshall Langham."

The handy-man swore a great oath.

"You've guessed it, boss! You've guessed it."

"It ain't a guess as it happens."

"Boss, do you mean to tell me you knew all along?" demanded Montgomery
incredulously.

"Yes."

"But what about North?"

"That's his lookout, let him clear himself."

Joe, shambling and shuffling, took a turn about the room.

"Boss, if it was me that stood in his boots the halter would be as good
as about my neck; they wouldn't give me no chance to clear myself,--they
wouldn't let me! Them smart lawyers would twist and turn everything I
said so that God A'mighty wouldn't know His own truth!"

"Well, you were in that alley, Joe; if you feel for him, I expect we
could somehow shift it to you!" said Gilmore.

The handy-man slouched to the hearth again.

"None of that, boss!" he cried. "I've told you what took me there, so
none of that!"

His voice shook with suppressed feeling, as he stood there scowling down
on the gambler.

"Sit down, Joe!" said Mr. Gilmore, unruffled.

Reluctantly the handy-man sank into the chair indicated.

"Now you old sot," began the gambler, "you listen to me! I suppose if
they could shift suspicion so that it would appear you had had something
to do with the old man's murder, it would take Moxlow and the judge and
any decent jury no time at all to hang you; for who would care a damn
whether you were hanged or not! But you needn't worry, I'm going to
manage this thing for you, I'm going to see that you don't get into
trouble. Now, listen, you're to let well enough alone. North is already
under suspicion apparently. All right, we'll help that suspicion along.
If you have anything to tell, you'll say that the man who came over that
shed looked like North!"

"Boss, I won't say a word about the shed or the alley!"

"Oh, yes you will, Joe! The man looked like North,--you remember, at the
t