"Yes--yes, I see," said Amidon, who knew absolutely nothing about the matter. "We should feel really annoyed by such a termination!" "Annoyed!" exclaimed the lawyer. "Say, Brassfield, that reminds me of Artemus Ward's statement that he was 'ashamed' when some one died! You'd lose the best wells you've got. And it would involve those transfers to the Waldrons, and might carry them down." "The Waldrons!" exclaimed Florian. "Why, I mean Miss Bessie and her aunt," said Edgington. "I mean bankruptcy---- But we've gone all over that before." Amidon nodded, with an air of knowing all about the matter. "Lots of times," said he. "And this evidence is----? Please give me the exact requirements--er, again." "The exact requirements," said Edgington, "as I have frequently shown you, and without its doing much good, are to prove that some time in March, 1896, you did not make a partnership agreement with this man Corkery by which you were to share with him the proceeds of your oil-prospecting, and under which he went into possession of this tract of land. He has a line of testimony which shows that you did. Proving a negative is rather unusual, but about the only thing which will save you is an alibi. Now you must pardon the expression, but you've always evaded my questions as to your whereabouts prior to June of that year. You've never flatly denied Corkery's story, but if it weren't for the inherent improbability of it, I'd have given up the fight long ago, for you have not helped as a client should. You haven't confided----" "But I will!" said Amidon energetically. "The man's a perjurer, and I'll prove it! All that time I was in Wisconsin. I was--I'll prove where I was----" "Good!" cried Edgington, noting a tendency to falter. "And now for the names and addresses of a few witnesses, and we'll go after them!" "Witnesses--yes, yes--we shall need witnesses, won't we?" faltered Amidon. "Say, Mr. Edgington, I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll turn you over to Blodgett." "The old gentleman at the hotel?" "The same," replied Amidon. "He was my lawyer, years ago. I'll send him to you directly this afternoon." Edgington made some notes in a book. "Very well," said he. "I'm glad that puzzle is in process of solution. And now one thing further, and I am done. This is a question of local politics. You know the talks we've had with the fellows about this trolley franchise, and the advisability of making you mayor. We all agree that your interests and mine and those of all our crowd demand your election to the place----" "Me mayor!" shouted Amidon. "Me run for office! Why, Mr. Edgington, you must be crazy!"