"It seems to me like good judgment," replied the stranger.

"You say that?" screamed Bert, going into a blind passion. "Is
that what we brought you here for?"

"I don't really know what you did bring me here for," replied
the stranger. "All I know is that you stopped me, when I was
driving past with my load of produce for the Gridley markets,
and you offered me two dollars to come down here and not say much
unless I was spoken to. I didn't come until you paid me the money.
It was good pay, and I'll stay here an hour longer if you really
think I owe you that much time."

"You're not a constable, or a sheriff's officer, are you, sir?"
asked Dick pleasantly.

"Not unless someone made me one when I wasn't looking," replied
the stranger, with a shrewd smile.

"I understand," nodded Prescott. "This fellow Dodge hired you
to come down with him for more than one reason. In the first
place, he and Bayliss were afraid to come here without backing.
For another thing, Dodge thought that we'd guess you to be a
constable, and I'll admit that I did mistake you for an officer
at the outset. Dodge thought your presence would frighten us.
You look like a decent man, sir, and I'm sorry to see you in
such company. These two fellows were chased out of the Gridley
High School just because they were considered unfit to associate
with the members of the student body."