tracks myself."

"But it rained, and it rained hard."

Johnny felt of his neck again.

"She sure did," he agreed. "Started just as this man Lull picked me,
like fruit on the bough. I forgot that. Well, anyway, if this Garfield
place is half human, then a slew of men went up Redgate Canyon before
the rain. There must have been some live ones in the bunch."

"I wouldn't worry about that none if I was you," said the jailer. "I
know Garfield, and I know old Pete Harkey, and he was taking the lead.
If Adam's horse came down the canyon after you did, he'll know it. And
if your track and the other were carefully ridden out where they
crossed--why, old Pete will see that, too."

Johnny raised his hand. "That's what he will see! Hold that idea
tight--squeeze it! If I am innocent, those tracks were ridden out and
spoiled, till Adam Forbes' horse went one way and mine another."

"Well, then--Pete Harkey'll see that, too; he will think about it once
and twice. Don't you worry. Jerome Martin and Jim-Ike-Jones went
along, too, and old man Fenderson, maybe. They'll see. That's what
they're going for."

"Hearsay evidence is no good in court. So I'm going to prophesy in
writing--with you to witness and swear to the time of it--that all
tracks this side of the murdered man are muddled. That written
prophecy may not be evidence, but it will make the judge scratch his
head."

"As much as to say--"

"Exactly. Someone killed Adam Forbes. You don't want to forget that.
If it wasn't me--who was it? Well, let me tell you something. It was a
mean man. Now you keep still a little, while I think over the meanest
man I've seen lately."

Johnny rolled another smoke; and when it was alight he spoke again.

"Curious, when we come to think of it, but the meanest things a man
can do is what he does with his mouth. To kiss and tell, for instance;
betrayal under trust. We go to church and hear about the crucifixion.
We have no hatred for the hands that drove the nails or the soldier
who stood guard--scarcely for the fanatics who hounded the innocent to
a shameful death. Our loathing is for Judas Iscariot, who betrayed
with a kiss."

Gwinne eyed his captive benevolently.

"Good land of Goshen, son--what on earth has all this got to do with
the price of hemp?"

"Everything to do with it. Demand for hemp is going to fluctuate
violently if I can swing the deal I have in mind," replied Johnny,
with spirit. "I was just thinking about two trai