speaking.

"Do you mean to tell me Albrecht has actually skipped out?" he
questioned, anxiously. "Did he leave any money?"

"Sure; he paid your folks' board till Monday. You bet I looked after
that."

"Board till Monday!" and Winston totally forgot himself. "That is n't
salary, man; there is something infernally dirty about this whole deal.
Why, he took in over three thousand dollars to-night, and he's got all
of that, and at least a week's receipts besides--the infernal cur! Was
he alone?"

"Tall fellow with clipped black moustache, and bald head."

"Lane; I expected as much; they're birds of a feather. When can they
get out of the Junction?"

"Well, the first train scheduled goes east at four o'clock, but it 's
generally late."

Winston walked twice across the floor, alternately swearing and
thinking.

"Is there any way I could get there before that time?" he questioned,
finally, his square jaw setting firm.

"Well, I reckon you might, by goin' hossback across the old trail, but
you 'd need to have a guide in the dark, and you 'd find it a hell of a