unkempt fields, the orchards and meadows, and the softened and caressing sunlight were as balm to his eyes, accustomed to the pale, grim southern plain and its fierce white sunshine. As the train

men behind him were dis

saying, "until this rich valley with all this w

companion, "until they begin to borrow

rst, "that Dell Baxter's been corralling

ssness of the day of reckoning. He jollies them along and tells 'em they're good fellows and hard workers, and he's sure they'll be able to pay when the time comes. Of course they never pay ba

o do it," said one of them. "Dell's been loaning him money and taking mortgages until Bancroft couldn't do anything else if he wanted to. Dell knows t

. Hullo! What's this about Jenkins?" His eye had caught the name of the man he wished to see in a column of local news. As he read, "Rutherford W. Jenkins came down from Las Vegas yesterda

membered, for they had met only once, months before. But Jenkins came forward with his hand outstretched in greeting. "

ially to see you, and as soon as you have a moment

nute, will you, till I finish up the business I ha

too, would know. To know would be to act. His revolver was in his hip-pocket, and he intended to go straight from the interview to that meeting which for half his years had been the one goal of his thought. He glanced at Jenkins, saying to himself, "He looks like a weasel, and I reckon he is just enough of one to

men of a man in whom detective processes are a natural endowment, enough facts to convince him of the reason for Conrad's visit, considering the while just what he

th a promptitude that left no doubt of his intention to keep the interview entirely formal. Jenkins licked his lips with an unwholesome smile, and led the way in silen

s mission, "I hear you are putting in some good licks for Johnny Martinez down in

Jenkins, from my friend Mr. Littleton, of Chicago, whom you met last week, that you are intereste

's a friend of yours, is he? Yes; he and I scraped up quite a friendship and had a good time to

some conversation with you about Sumner L. Delafield, formerly of Boston, but n

cularly, "that my mental condition wasn't perfectly clear and it's likely my remarks were a little foggy too. But I recall that

n the case has been for me. I h

ime past I've been a good deal interested in that matter

told of his father's ruin and of his own trailing of the culprit through so many years. Of his motives he said nothing, and of his work in tracking Delafield no more than was necessary. Few, even of his best friends, knew any

led him to think that Jenkins must be engaged in the same search, and sugges

er's long chase of the fugitive. "Yes; you've done very well, Conrad," he said, admiration in his voice, "ve

he burst out, "I've got the notion that you know who Delafield is, and I'm willing to pay you for the information. I shall undoubtedly be able to find out for myself if I

nd deciding whether he should tell the whole truth, a part of it, or none at all. Presently he said

sly, "there are two or three things I would like to know. You ar

" answered Curti

men in the Territory as possible. This man Delafield is one of Baxter's influential lieutenants, and

d dollars. "It has occurred to me," he went on, "that you might be able to influence him when I couldn't. Combine this leverage with your friendship, and I believe alm

's hand at the foot of the stairway, showed the rapid ebbing of his self-control. Jenkins noticed both look and movement, and a

s that. Possibly it will be enough to keep him from supporting Dellmey Baxter. Yes," he went on w

ou're sure of doing I shall have to ask more money for the information. It has cost me a great deal of time and effort, and if I can't bring about this result with it I must repay

do; and you are asking more money

ise to induce him to remain n

t, and I will give you t

l; it's a

k of Golden. Jenkins examined the bit of paper, folded it awa

to you, and he is universally regarded, all over New Mexico, as a model citizen, a

d, rising and rea

e began speaking slowly and impressively,-"the absconding defaulter, the man who sank the fortunes of hundreds of people, the man who had to hide in Canada and slink around in out-of-the-way places for so m

e man who had said this thing about his best friend. He leaped forward, seized Jenkins by the collar, and shook him as if he had been a ten-year-old boy. Although his arms were flying hither and yon Jenkins grabbed wildly for the pistol in his poc

until the windows rattled. With two quick, backward strides he gained the door. Opening it with a hand st

that ever made tracks in New Mexico, and if you ever tell that

e took out the check, and chuckled. "I'll get it cashed before he changes his mind," he thought. Then a wave of anger and resen