hotel and crawled wearily into bed.

IV

It was close upon six o'clock when a knock roused him from a sleep that
had not been easily won.

"It's yo' baggage, boss!"

"Baggage?" repeated Archie.

He had told the clerk he had no baggage and had paid in advance for his
room. His suitcase was at Walker's and it was hardly possible that
Walker had forwarded his effects. He opened the door cautiously and saw
at a glance that the bag was undeniably his. He groped for his trousers
and gave the waiting porter half a dollar.

"How did it get here?" he asked with attempted indifference.

"Don't know nuffin' 'bout it, suh; gemmen tole me tote 'er up. If it
ain't all right--"

"Oh, it's all right enough!" Archie exclaimed hastily, fearing to pursue
the inquiry.

He opened the bag and found that it not only contained all his
belongings but they had been packed neatly by an experienced hand. The
unaccountable arrival of his luggage sent his thoughts flying to
Walker's farm and the Governor.

Pleased as he was by the arrival of his effects, the reappearance of the
bag brought him back to earth with a reverberating jar. He was confident
that malevolent agencies were responsible; and to be reminded thus
sharply of the powers of evil just when he craved nothing so much as
slumber's oblivion was disturbing and ominous.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed idly smoothing the wrinkles out of
a pet necktie when a gently insinuating knock unpreluded by a step in
the hall caused him to start.

"Come!"

The door opened slowly, wide enough to permit a man's head to be thrust
in. A face wearing an amused smile, a familiar face but the last he
expected to see, met his gaze.

"Hist!"

The Governor widened the opening in the door and squeezed through.

"My dear Archie!" he exclaimed as he locked the door, "how infinitely
relieved I am! I was afraid some harm had befallen you, but to find you
here safe and sound fills my heart with gratitude."

He flung down his cap and linen duster, chose a chair by the window and
seated himself with a little sigh.

"I hope," Archie ventured timidly, "that you came alone?"

"Oh, yes; I'm alone! Trust me for that; but my friend Walker was not
easily shaken. A strong passionate nature, Walker; a man long habituated
to the lethal knife, the unerring pistol. No easy task you may well
believe to get rid of him. And his provocation! O my boy, his
provocation to justifiable homicide and all t