while G. B. Stiles took writing materials
from his valise, and, sitting in the buggy, made a show of drawing up
a legal paper.

"I'm going to draw you up a paper as you asked me to. Now how do you
know you have the man?"

"It iss ten t'ousand tallers. You make me out dot paper you gif me
half yet."

"Damn it! You answer my question. I can't make this out unless I know
you're going to come up to the scratch." He made a show of writing,
and talked at the same time. "I, G. B. Stiles, detective, in the
employ of Peter Craigmile, of the town of Leauvite, for the capture of
the murderer of his son, Peter Craigmile, Jr., do hereby promise one
Nels Nelson, Swede,--in the employ of Mr Decker, hotel proprietor, as
stable man,--for services rendered in the identification of said
criminal at such time as he should be found,----Now, what service have
you rendered? How much money have you spent in the search?"

"Not'ing. I got heem."

"Nothing. That's just it."

"I got heem."

"No, you haven't got him, and you can't get him without me. Don't you
think it. I am the one to get him. You have no warrant and no license.
I'm the one to put in the claim and get the reward for you, and you'll
have to take what I choose to give, and no more. By rights you would
only have your fee as witness, and that's all. That's all the state
gives. Whatever else you get is by my kindness in sharing with you.
Hear?"

A dangerous light gleamed in the Swede's eyes, and Stiles, by a slight
disarrangement of his coat in the search for his handkerchief,
displayed a revolver in his hip pocket. Nels' eyes shifted, and he
looked away.

"You'd better quit this damned nonsense and say what you'll take and
what you'll swear to."

"I'll take half dot money," said Nels, softly and stubbornly.

"I'll take out all I've spent on this case before we divide it in any
way, shape, or manner." Stiles figured a moment on the margin of his
paper. "Now, what are you going to swear to? You needn't shift round.
You'll tell me here just what you're prepared to give in as evidence
before I put down a single figure to your name on this paper. See?"

"I done tol' you all dot in Chicago dot time."

"Very well. You'll give that in as evidence, every word of it, and
swear to it?"

"Yas."

"I don't more than half believe this is the man. You know it's life
imprisonment for him if it's proved on him, and you'd better be sure
you have the right one. I'm in for justice,