ot yet fathomed.
As I say, Hayden was afraid of being caught. Andy Rutter, manager of
Baldpate Inn for the last few summers, is in some way mixed up in the
Suburban. It was he who suggested to Hayden that an absolutely secluded
spot for passing this large sum of money would be the inn. The idea
appealed to Hayden. Cargan tried to laugh him out of it. The mayor did
not relish the thought of a visit to Baldpate Mountain in the dead of
winter, particularly as he considered such precautions unnecessary. But
Hayden was firm; this spot, he pointed out, was ideal, and the mayor at
last laughingly gave in. The sum involved was well worth taking a little
trouble to gain."

Professor Bolton paused, and blinked his dim old eyes.

"So the matter was arranged," he continued. "Mr. Bland, a clerk in
Hayden's employ, was sent up here with the money, which he placed in the
safe on the very night of our arrival. The safe had been left open by
Rutter; Bland did not have the combination. He put the package inside,
swung shut the door, and awaited the arrival of the mayor."

"I was present," smiled Magee, "at the ceremony you mention."

"Yes? All these plans, as I have said, were known to Drayton. A few
nights ago he came to me. He wanted to send an emissary to Baldpate--a
man whom Cargan had never met--one who could perhaps keep up the
pretense of being here for some other reason than a connection with the
bribe. He asked me to undertake the mission, to see all I could, and if
possible to secure the package of money. This last seemed hardly likely.
At any rate, I was to gather all the evidence I could. I hesitated. My
library fire never looked so alluring as on that night. Also, I was
engaged in some very entertaining researches."

"I beg your pardon?" said Billy Magee.

"Some very entertaining research work."

"Yes," reflected Magee slowly, "I suppose such things do exist. Go on,
please."

"I had loudly proclaimed my championship of civic virtue, however, and
here was a chance to serve Reuton. I acquiesced. The day I was to start
up here, poor Kendrick came back. He, too, had been a student of mine; a
friend of both Drayton and Hayden. Seven years ago he and Hayden were
running the Suburban together, under Thornhill's direction. The two
young men became mixed up in a rather shady business deal, which was
more of Hayden's weaving than Kendrick's. Hayden came to Kendrick with
the story that they were about to be found out, and sugg