began to relax at once. The law against which it was ordinarily so hard
to offend was not now so important. Steger saw that it was needless to
introduce any additional arguments.

"It's a very ticklish business, this, Mr. Steger," put in the sheriff,
yieldingly, and yet with a slight whimper in his voice. "If anything
were to happen, it would cost me my place all right. I don't like to do
it under any circumstances, and I wouldn't, only I happen to know both
Mr. Cowperwood and Mr. Stener, and I like 'em both. I don' think
they got their rights in this matter, either. I don't mind making an
exception in this case if Mr. Cowperwood don't go about too publicly. I
wouldn't want any of the men in the district attorney's office to know
this. I don't suppose he'll mind if I keep a deputy somewhere near all
the time for looks' sake. I have to, you know, really, under the law.
He won't bother him any. Just keep on guard like." Jaspers looked at
Mr. Steger very flatly and wisely--almost placatingly under the
circumstances--and Steger nodded.

"Quite right, Sheriff, quite right. You're quite right," and he drew out
his purse while the sheriff led the way very cautiously back into his
library.

"I'd like to show you the line of law-books I'm fixing up for myself
in here, Mr. Steger," he observed, genially, but meanwhile closing his
fingers gently on the small roll of ten-dollar bills Steger was handing
him. "We have occasional use for books of that kind here, as you see. I
thought it a good sort of thing to have them around." He waved one arm
comprehensively at the line of State reports, revised statutes, prison
regulations, etc., the while he put the money in his pocket and Steger
pretended to look.

"A good idea, I think, Sheriff. Very good, indeed. So you think if Mr.
Cowperwood gets around here very early Monday morning, say eight or
eight-thirty, that it will be all right?"

"I think so," replied the sheriff, curiously nervous, but agreeable,
anxious to please. "I don't think that anything will come up that will
make me want him earlier. If it does I'll let you know, and you can
produce him. I don't think so, though, Mr. Steger; I think everything
will be all right." They were once more in the main hall now. "Glad to
have seen you again, Mr. Steger--very glad," he added. "Call again some
day."

Waving the sheriff a pleasant farewell, he hurried on his way to
Cowperwood's house.

You would not have thought, seeing Cowp