men enough to do it?"

"Not so many men. But they are sworn-in deputies, with the sheriff of
Ute County in command--a posse, in fact. So he has the law on his
side."

"Which is more than he had when he set a thug on me this afternoon at
Carbonate," said Winton sourly; and he told Adams about the
misunderstanding in the lobby of the Buckingham. His friend whistled
under his breath. "By Jove! that's pretty rough. Do you suppose the
Rajah dictated any such Lucretia Borgia thing as that?"

Winton took time to think about it and admitted a doubt, as he had not
before. Believing Mr. Somerville Darrah fit for treasons, stratagems,
and spoils in his official capacity of vice-president of a fighting
corporation, he was none the less disposed to find excuses for Miss
Virginia Carteret's uncle.

"I did think so at first, but I guess it was only the misguided zeal
of some understrapper. Of course, word has gone out all along the
C. G. R. line that we are to be delayed by every possible expedient."

But Adams shook his head.

"Mr. Darrah dictated that move in his own proper person."

"How do you know that?"

"You had a message from me this afternoon?"