surprise, for the sheriff and
Mr. Baldwin came back, and the former announced that Fred and
Lord Ralles were free, having been released on bail. When we
found that Baldwin had gone on the bond, I knew that there was a
scheme of some sort in the move, and, taking Fred aside, I warned
him against trying to recover the proxies.

"They probably think that one or the other of you knows where the
letters are hidden," I whispered, "and they'll keep a watch on
you; so go slow."

He nodded, and followed the sheriff and Lord Ralles out.

The moment they were gone, Mr. Camp said, "I came back to give
you a last chance."

"That's very good of you," I said.

"I warn you," he muttered threateningly, "we are not men to be
beaten. There are fifty cowboys of Baldwin's in this town, who
think you were concerned in the holding up. By merely tipping
them the wink, they'll have you out of this, and after they've
got you outside I wouldn't give the toss of a nickel for your
life. Now, then, will you hand over those letters, or will you go
to ---- inside of ten minutes?"

I lost my temper in turn. "I'd much prefer going to some place
where I was less sure of meeting you," I retorted; "and as for
the cowboys, you'll have to be as tricky with them as you want to
be with me before you'll get them to back you up in your dirty
work."

At this point the sheriff called back to ask Camp if he was
coming.

"All right," cried Camp, and went to the door. "This is the last
call," he snarled, pausing for a moment on the threshold.

"I hope so," said I, more calmly in manner than in feeling, I
have to acknowledge, for I didn't like the look of things. That
they were in earnest I felt pretty certain, for I understood now
why they had let my companions out of jail. They knew that angry
cowboys were a trifle undiscriminating, and didn't care to risk
hanging more than was necessary.

A long time seemed to pass after they were gone, but in reality
it wasn't more than fifteen minutes before I heard some one steal
up and softly unlock the door. I confess the evident endeavor to
do it quietly gave me a scare, for it seemed to me it couldn't be
an above-board movement. Thinking this, I picked up the box on
which I had been sitting and prepared to make the best fight I
could. It was a good deal of relief, therefore, when the door
opened just wide enough for a man to put in his head, and I heard
the sheriff's voice say, softly,--

"Hi, Gordon!"

I