that Zeph had deserted
the afternoon previous.

"I don't understand it," said Forgan. "The lad seemed to hate the
strikers for attacking him the other night. I suppose, though, it's
with him like a good many others--there's lots of 'relief money' being
given out, and that's the bait that catches them."

"I must manage to see Zeph," mused Ralph. "I declare, I can hardly
believe he is really on their side. I wonder how near I dare venture
to the headquarters of that mob."

The young fireman went to the vicinity of the hall occupied by the
strikers, but he did not meet Zeph. Then Ralph proceeded to the
business portion of Stanley Junction. He visited the bank and several
other leading local business institutions. He made a great many
inquiries and he felt that he was on the edge of some important
discoveries.

When he got home he found Zeph sitting on the porch, smiling as ever.
Ralph nodded seriously to him. Zeph grinned outright.

"What's that kind of a welcome for, eh?" he demanded.

"Sorry to see you in the ranks of the strikers to-day, Zeph," observed
Ralph.

"Ought to be glad."

"What?"

"I suppose a fellow is free to follow out his convictions, isn't he?"

"Certainly."

"Well, I'm following out mine," declared Zeph--"the conviction that of
all the mean rascals in this burg, Jim Evans is the meanest. See here,
Fairbanks, have you lost your wits? Do you really for one minute
suppose I sympathize with those fellows?"

"You seemed pretty close to Evans."

"Grand!" chuckled Zeph. "That's just what I was working for. See
here, I made up my mind that those fellows were up to more mischief
than what they have already done. I concluded there was something
under the surface of this pretended strike. I wanted to find out. I
have."

Ralph looked very much interested now. He began to see the light.

"Go on, Zeph," he said.

"Well, I found out just what I suspected--some one is furnishing the
strikers with money, and lots of it."

"Do you know who it is?"

"I don't, but I do know one thing: every day Evans goes to the office
of a certain lawyer in town here. They have a long consultation. Evans
always comes away very much satisfied and with more money."

"What's the lawyer's name, Zeph?" inquired Ralph.

"Bartlett."

Just then they were called in to supper by Mrs. Fairbanks. Ralph was
silent and thoughtful during most of the meal.

The young fireman had learned that afternoon that a stranger named