since the row with Duff started."

"It's a puzzle," admitted Mr. Ellsworth.

"It is, but it won't be for long," Reade declared confidently. "There
are ways of finding out how that dynamite got into Paloma, there must be
ways of finding out who caused it to be brought in."

Then, suddenly, Tom's eyes grew wider open and brighter.

"Mr. Ellsworth, I believe that dynamite was brought in before the
trouble opened."

"But who would have wished to bring dynamite here until the trouble
started?"

"Anyone might be interested in doing it who wanted to see trouble
start."

"I'm afraid I don't follow you, Reade," observed the general manager,
frowning slightly.

"There were others who wanted the job of blocking the Man-killer," Tom
went on earnestly. "They wanted a lot more money for the job than we
thought was necessary. I don't want to accuse anyone, but I am just a
trifle suspicious that the concern of Chicago contractors--"

"The Colthwaite people!" broke in Mr. Ellsworth.

"Yes; if they were bad people, and ugly business rivals--"