"Then is there anything else I can do for you, or tell you? You seem troubled. They say I'm a crabbed, treacherous old fellow. All the same, I would do a good turn for Robert Stirling's son!" "Thank you," said Bart, feeling easier. "If you will, you might tell me who was with Lem Wacker last night." "Two men--don't know them from Adam, never saw them before. Lem drove up with them in his rig about ten o'clock. They took the horse and wagon around to the side shed and came in, drank and talked a lot among themselves, and finally started playing cards in the little room yonder." "By themselves?" "Yes. Once, when I went in with refreshments, Wacker was in a terrible temper. It seemed he had lost all his money, and he had staked his rig and lost that, too. One of the two men laughed at him, and rallied him, remarking he would have 'his share,' whatever that meant, in a day or two, and then they would meet again and give him his revenge. By the way, I'm off in my story--Wacker did leave here, about eleven o'clock." "Alone?" "Yes. He was gone half an hour, came back looking wise and excited, joined his cronies again, and at midnight was helpless. My man and I carried him upstairs to bed." "What became of the two men?" "They sat watching the clock till closing time, one o'clock, went out, unhitched the horse, and drove off." "I wish I knew who they were," murmured Bart. "I suppose I might worry it out of Wacker, when he gets his head clear," suggested Green. "I don't believe he would tell you the truth--and he might suspect." "Suspect what?" demanded Green keenly. "Never mind, Mr. Green. Can I take a look into the room where they spent the evening?" "Certainly--go right in." Bart held his breath, nearly suffocated by the mixed liquor and tobacco taint in the close, disorderly looking apartment. His eye passed over the stained table, the broken glasses and litter of cigar stubs. Then he came nearer to the table. One corner was covered with chalk marks. They apparently represented the score of the games the trio had played. There were three columns. At the head of one was scrawled the name "Wacker," at the second "Buck," at the third "Hank." Bart wondered if he had better try to interview Lem Wacker. He decided in the negative. In the first place, Wacker would not be likely to talk with him--if he did, he would be on his guard and prevaricate; and, lastly, as long as he was asleep he was out of mischief, and helpless to interfere with Bart. The young express agent left the Sharp Corner without saying anything further to Silas Green. He had his theory, and his plan. His theory was that Lem Wacker, with a perfect knowledge of the express office situation, had "fixed" the night watchman's lunch, and employed two accomplices to do the rest of the work. When Wacker woke up, he would simply say he had sold his rig to two strangers, and, so far as the actual burglary was concerned, would be able to prove a conclusive _alibi_.