"Simply that and nothing more, I found a halter in the road one day and
picked it up, carrying it with me, and it wasn't until a most officious
individual in blue coat and brass buttons came along and rudely placed a
pair of exquisite steel bracelets on my delicate wrists, that I learned
that a horse was tied at the other end of the halter, and the gentleman
who is supposed to dispense justice in Kansas City urged me to remove to
Jefferson City for a time; that is all. The number of my room was 1907
and my colored friend here had the apartment next to mine."

"Yah, yah," laughed Scip, "we bof did our time together, suah."

This new claim on Swanson's friendship had its effect, and the generous
quantities of whisky which he had swallowed having put him into an
extraordinary good humor, he threw his arms around the doctor and vowed
he would keep him all his life.

Thus the two detectives by a bold piece of strategy, had gained entrance
to the express robbers' asylum and had been offered the right hand of
fellowship. The evening wore on, cards were produced, and the click of
the ivory poker chips was heard above the low hum of conversation. The
doctor did not care to take a hand, and Scip, apparently tired out with
his day's journey, had thrown himself on a buffalo-robe in a corner, and
seemed fast asleep.

The Doctor, his eyes half closed, and slowly puffing his pipe, closely
and keenly eyed every face in the room; but most of all, he gazed at
Swanson, who, partly overcome by liquor, was leaning back in an easy,
cane-bottomed chair, looking into the fire. A malignant frown, ever and
anon, knit his low brow, and his cruel mouth curled so as to show his