"I feel it is necessary for me to take a short rest. Recent excitement in Manti has left me very nervous and unstrung. I shall be away from Manti for about two weeks, I think. During my absence any pending litigation must be postponed, of course." The letter was signed by Judge Lindman, and postmarked "Dry Bottom." Corrigan got up after a while and stuffed the letter into a pocket. He went out, and when he returned, Braman had gone out also--to supper, Corrigan surmised. When the banker came in an hour later, Corrigan was still seated at his desk. The banker smiled at him, and Corrigan motioned to him. Corrigan's voice was silky. "Where were you last night, Braman?" The banker's face whitened; his thoughts became confused, but instantly cleared when he observed from the expression of the big man's face that the question was, apparently, a casual one. But he drew his breath tremulously. One could never be sure of Corrigan. "I spent the night here--in the back room." "Then you didn't see the Judge last night--or hear him?" "No." Corrigan drew the Judge's letter from the pocket and passed it over to Braman, watching his face steadily as he read. He saw a quick stain appear in the banker's cheeks, and his own lips tightened. The banker coughed before he spoke. "Wasn't that a rather abrupt leave-taking?" "Yes--rather," said Corrigan, dryly. "You didn't hear him walking about during the night?" "No." "You're rather a heavy sleeper, eh? There is only a thin board partition between this building and the courthouse." "He must have left after daylight. Of course, any noise he might have made after that I wouldn't have noticed." "No, of course not," said Corrigan, passionlessly. "Well--he's gone." He seemed to have dismissed the matter from his mind and Braman sighed with relief. But he watched Corrigan narrowly during the remainder of the time he stayed in the office, and when he went out, Braman shook a vindictive fist at his back. "Worry, damn you!" he sneered. "I don't know what was in Judge Lindman's mind, but I hope he never comes back! That will help to repay you for that knockdown!" Corrigan went over to the _Castle_ and ate supper. He was preoccupied and deliberate, for he was trying to weave a complete fabric out of the threads of Braman's visits to Hester Harvey; Hester's ride westward, and Judge Lindman's abrupt departure. He had a feeling that they were in some way connected. At a little after seven he finished his meal, went upstairs and knocked at the door of Hester Harvey's room. He stepped inside when she opened the door, and stood, both hands in the pockets of his trousers, looking at her with a smile of repressed malignance. "Nice night for a ride, wasn't it?" he said, his lips parting a very little to allow the words to filter through.