ruggist, drily, eyeing him curiously.

"Was I sick? Lost consciousness? This is odd--very odd," said Hopewell.
"I believe it must have been that lemonade."

Mr. Cross Moore snorted. "Lemonade!" he ejaculated. "Suthin' b'sides
tartaric acid to aid the lemons in that lemonade, Hopewell. You was
drunk!"

Drugg blinked at him. "That--that's a hard sayin', Cross Moore," he
observed gently.

"What lemonade was this, Hopewell?" demanded the druggist.

"I had some. Two glasses. The other musicians took beer. I always take
lemonade."

"That's what did it," Frank Bowman said, aside to Janice. "Joe Bodley
doped it."

"You had brandy, Hopewell. I could smell it on your breath," said
Massey. "And I know how that affects you. Remember?"

"Oh, no, Massey! You know I do not drink intoxicants," said Hopewell
confidently.

"I know you are a dern fool, Hopewell--and mebbe I'm one!" declared Mr.
Cross Moore, suddenly rising. Then he bolted for the door and went out
without bidding anybody good night.

Massey looked after his brother committeeman with surprise. "Now!" he
muttered, "what's got into him, I'd like for to be told?"

Meanwhile Hopewell was saying to Janice: "Miss Janice, how do you come
here? I know Amarilla expected you. Isn't it late?"

"Mr. Drugg," said the girl steadily, "we brought you here to be treated
by Mr. Massey--Mr. Bowman and I. I do not suppose you remember our
getting you out of the Lake View Inn?"

"Getting me out of the Inn?" he gasped flushing.

"Yes. You did not know what you were doing. They did not want you to
leave the dance, but Mr. Bowman made them let you come away with us."

"You don't mean that, Miss Janice?" said the storekeeper horrified.
"Are--are you sure? I had not been drinking intoxicants."

"Brandy, I tell ye, Hopewell!" exclaimed the druggist exasperated. "You
keep away from the Inn. They're playing tricks on you down there, them
fellers are. You ain't fit to run alone, anyway--and never was," he
added, too low for Hopewell to hear.

"And look out for that violin, Mr. Drugg, if you prize it at all," added
Frank Bowman.

"Why do you say that?" asked Hopewell puzzled.

"I believe there was a fellow down there trying to steal it," the
engineer said. "He had got it away from you and was looking inside of
it. Is the name of the maker inside the violin? Is it a valuable
instrument, Mr. Drugg?"

"I--I don't know," the other said slowly. "Only for