Before rejoining the crowd in the tap-room, Barnes advised his companions, especially the girl, to say as little as possible about what they had heard and seen. "This thing is going to turn out to be a whacking sensation, and it may be a great deal more important than we think. You don't want to become involved in the investigation, which may become a national affair. I'd like to have a hand in clearing it up. My head is chock-full of theories that might--" "Maybe Roon was right," said Dillingford, slowly, as he edged a step or two away from Barnes. "In what respect?" "He certainly thought you were a detective or something like that. Maybe he thought you came with that young woman, or maybe he thought you were shadowing her, or--" "There are a lot of things he may have thought," interrupted Barnes, smiling. "It is barely possible that my arrival may have caused him to act more hastily than he intended. That may be the reason why the job ended so disastrously for him." Mrs. Jones called out from the doorway. "Mr. Barnes, you're wanted in there." "All right," he responded. "Better let me get you a wet towel to wash your hand," said Bacon to Miss Thackeray. "My God, I wouldn't have THAT on my hand for a million dollars." The doctor had been working over the prostrate form on the tables. As Barnes entered the room, he looked up and declared that the man was dead. "This is Mr. Barnes," said Putnam Jones, indicating the tall traveller with a short jerk of his thumb. "I am from the sheriff's office," said the man who stood beside the doctor. The rest of the crowd evidently had been ordered to stand back from the tables. The sheriff was a burly fellow, whose voice shook in a most incongruous manner, despite his efforts to appear composed and otherwise efficient. "Did you ever see this man before?" "Not until he was carried in here half an hour ago. I arrived here this evening." "What's your business up here, Mr. Barnes?" "I have no business up here. I just happened to stroll in this evening." "Well," said the sheriff darkly, "I guess I'll have to ask you to stick around here till we clear this business up. We don't know you an'--Well, we can't take any chances. You understand, I reckon." "I certainly fail to understand, Mr. Sheriff. I know nothing whatever of this affair and I intend to continue on my way to-morrow morning." "Well, I guess not." "Do you mean to say that I am to be detained here against my--" "You got to stay here till we are satisfied that you don't know anything about this business. That's all." "Am I to consider myself under arrest, sir?" "I wouldn't go as far as to say that. You just stick around here, that's all I got to say. If you're all right, we'll soon find it out. What's more, if you are all right you'll be willin' to stay. Do you get me?"