to do his bidding on our excursion to the
interior.

"Have you any doubt that Buckner is the man who robbed the messenger of
the four thousand dollars?" I asked, rather to bring him out than
because I valued his opinion in a detective case.

"Not the slightest in the world; but I should not be surprised to learn
that he gave Nick a hundred dollars, or something of that sort, to
clear out at just this time," replied Cornwood, easily.

"I don't see how that could have been," I protested. "Nick could not
have seen Buckner after the money was stolen, unless he visited him in
the lock-up."

"That was easily enough done."

"But some officer would have heard what passed between them. Besides,
Buckner had no money, for none was found upon him when he was
arrested."

"Buckner hid the money, but he stowed away enough to see him through
the trial. As the case now stands, they can't convict the man, for Nick
was the most important witness. He saw Buckner take the money. I have
no doubt Buckner will be discharged to-day," said Cornwood,
confidently.

"Was that the reason you would not act as his counsel?" I asked, for
the late pilot's statements seemed to be contradictory.

"What you have told me, Captain Garningham, entirely changes my
opinion. You were present, and you have told me exactly how the affair
happened. I supposed Peverell saw Buckner take the package. That makes
all the difference in the world in a court of law. No one saw Buckner
take the money, according to your evidence, except Nick. The supposed
robber was arrested down the wharf; he was searched, all the holes and
corners, including the river, were searched for the package, but it
could not be found. What evidence is there that Buckner took it?"

"I don't see any, except that of Nick Boomsby; and he don't tell his
story twice alike," I replied. "But, if Buckner did not take the money,
I can't see who did take it. I saw the messenger lay the package on the
counter; and the next thing I saw was Nick leaping over the counter."

"I don't say that Buckner did not take the package; on the contrary, I
believe he did take it; only there is not evidence enough to convict
him without Nick," argued Cornwood. "If I had known that Nick was to be
out of the way, I certainly should have taken the case, for a man who
has stolen four thousand dollars can afford to pay the lawyer well who
gets him out of the scrape."

I was disgusted with this logic, though it was pe