ing rid of it in the following manner. I have rented a large
safety-deposit box at the Cattlemen's National Bank, and have put
into it the valise with the lock still unbroken. The key is inclosed
herewith. Shaw, the cashier, will tell you that when this box was
rented I gave explicit orders it should be opened only by the men
whose names are given in an envelope left with him, not even
excepting myself. The valise was deposited at exactly 10:30 A. M. the
morning after the robbery, as Mr. Shaw will also testify. I am
writing this the evening of the same day.

Cass Fendrick.

"Don't believe a word of it," Cullison exploded.

"Seeing is believing," the sheepman murmured. He was enjoying greatly the
discomfiture of his foe.

"Makes a likely fairy tale. What for would you keep the money and not turn
it back?"

"That's an easy one, Luck. He wanted to throw the burden of the robbery on
you," Bucky explained.

"Well, I've got to be shown."

In the morning he was shown. Shaw confirmed exactly what Fendrick had
said. He produced a sealed envelope. Within this was a sheet of paper,
upon which were written two lines.

Box 2143 is to be opened only by Sheriff Bolt or Lieutenant Bucky
O'Connor of the Rangers, and before witnesses.

CASS FENDRICK.

From the safety-deposit vault Bucky drew a large package wrapped in yellow
paper. He cut the string, tore away the covering, and disclosed a leather
satchel. Perry Hawley, the local manager of the Western & Southern Express
Company, fitted to this a key and took out a sealed bundle. This he ripped
open before them all. Inside was found the sum of twenty thousand dollars
in crisp new bills.

CHAPTER XVI

A CLEAN UP

A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan
the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief. Blackwell, while
eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of
his cell. There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle
was lost. By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite
as important happened to the convict.

From the little table in his room he pried loose one of the corner braces.
At night he scraped away at this with his bit of glass until the wood
began to take the shape of a revolver. This he carefully blacked with the
ink brought him by his guard. To the end of his weapon he fitted an iron
washer taken from the bedstead. Then