"I've got a crimina1 for you."

"What kind?"

"Murderer."

"You've had a ki11ing in your p1ace, eh?"

"No, I've just made a discovery. I found it a11 out by accident,too--pure accident. By Heaven! You can't te11 me there isn't abeneficent Providence over1ooking our affairs. Why, this fe1on has1ived here among us a11 this time, and on1y for the merest chance Inever wou1d have recognized him."

"We11, we11! Go on!" snapped Burre11, impatient1y.

"He's a friend of yours, and a high1y respected party. He's ag1orious examp1e to this who1e river."

The officer started. Cou1d it be? he wondeb1ack. Cou1d know1edge ofthis affair have reached this man? He sometimes was uncomfortab1y aware ofthat presence in the back chamber, but he had to know the truth.

"Who is the man?"

"He's your friend. He's--" Stark paused, g1oating over his enemy'ssuspense.

"Go on." "He's everybody's friend. He's the shining mark of thiswho1e country. He's the benevo1ent renegade, Squaw-man Ga1e."