"I don't wish to appear unduly inquisitive," began their guest, "but now that we have all night before us, would you mind telling me why I am thus taken charge of by strangers on whom I have no claim?" "There are several reasons," replied Jim, who was always the spokesman for the company, "and we are quite willing to mention them. You appear to be a person of some intelligence----" "Thanks," interjected Stranleigh. Jim went on, unheeding the interruption--"and so perhaps you know that we suspect you of being in cohoots with Ricketts." "Does 'cohoots' mean co-partnership?" "Something of that sort. You partly persuaded us that wasn't so, but I followed you to make sure. Perhaps you remember that I caught you coming out from Ricketts' office. You made for that office the moment you reached Bleachers." "Pardon me, but I went first to the hotel." "Yes; and you enquired there where Ricketts hung out." "Certainly; but that's in my favour. It showed that so far from being in the employ of the lawyer, I didn't even know where he lived." "It was a good bluff." "It's very circumstantial evidence of my innocence. But for the sake of argument, I will admit that I am in 'cohoots,' as you call it, with the estimable Ricketts. What next?" "The next thing is that you learnt from Miss Armstrong of our intention to go into Bleachers and shoot up the town, including Ricketts." "That is true." "You didn't like the plan and said so." "That also is correct." "You said it should be stopped, not knowing the ways of this country." "Certainly. Desirable as may be the shooting up of Bleachers, the odds are too strongly against you." "Oh, we'll chance that. But the next thing you do is to put your funny clothes on, get out your horse, and ride directly to Mr. Ricketts. You are an informer." "An informer is always a despicable character, Mr. Dean. What's the next item in the indictment?" "Don't you think that's enough? Men have been hanged for less. An informer is the most poisonous wretch in the world except a horse thief." "Then I am in danger of being hanged?" "You sure are." "Isn't there any way in which I can compound my felony?" "Well, I don't quite know what confounding a felony is, but you're the sleekest fellow I ever met, and if you think you can palaver us to let you go, you've made the mistake of your life." "I shouldn't think of attempting such a thing. I am merely endeavouring to discover your state of mind. You're strong on muscle, Jim, and I admire your build, but I'm beginning to doubt whether your brain equals your frame. There was a time when your equipment would have been victorious, but those days are long since past. Nowadays it's brain that wins every time, and in every country. Physical force has had to give way before it. Jimmy, my boy, you're out of date." "Brain isn't going to help you any," said Dean, evidently annoyed by these strictures on his mentality.