away with her--she is to
catch the ten-thirty train for Reuton. The train arrives at its
destination at twelve. Much as it pains me to say it, no one will leave
this room before twelve-fifteen."

"You--crook!" roared Cargan.

Mr. Magee smiled as he put the package in the girl's hand.

"Possibly," he said. "But, Mr. Cargan, the blackness of the kettle
always has annoyed the pot. Do not be afraid," he added to the girl.
"Every gentleman in this room is to spend the evening with me. You will
not be annoyed in any way." He looked around the menacing circle. "Go,"
he said, "and may the gods of the mountain take care of you."

The little professor of Comparative Literature stepped forward and stood
pompously before Magee.

"One moment," he remarked. "Before you steal this money in front of our
very eyes, I want to inform you who I am, and who I represent here."

"This is no time," replied Magee, "for light talk on the subject of
blondes."

"This is the time," said the professor warmly, "for me to tell you that
Mr. Kendrick here and myself represent at Baldpate Inn the prosecuting
attorney of Reuton county. We--"

Cargan, big, red, volcanic, interrupted.

"Drayton," he bellowed. "Drayton sent you here? The rat! The pup! Why, I
made that kid. I put him where he is. He won't dare touch me."

"Won't he?" returned Professor Bolton. "My dear sir, you are mistaken.
Drayton fully intends to prosecute you on the ground that you arranged
to pass Ordinance Number 45, granting the Suburban Railway the privilege
of merging with the Civic, in exchange for this bribe of two hundred
thousand dollars."

"He won't dare," cried Cargan. "I made him."

"Before election," said the professor, "I believe he often insisted to
you that he would do his duty as he saw it."

"Of course he did," replied Cargan. "But that's what they all say."

"He intends to keep his word."

The mayor of Reuton slid into the shadows.

"To think he'd do this thing to me," he whined. "After all I've done for
him."

"As I was saying, Mr. Magee," continued the professor, "Mr. Kendrick and
I came up here to secure this package of money as evidence against
Cargan and--the man above. I speak with the voice of the law when I say
you must turn this money over to me."

For answer Magee smiled at the girl.

"You'd better go now," he said. "It's a long walk down the mountain."

"You refuse?" cried the professor.

"Absolutely--don't we, Miss Norton?" said Ma