“No, she didn’t,” said Murdock, taking a chair. “You took it for granted. I heard all she said. That’s neither here nor there, however. The question is, Kennedy, what do you really intend doing?” “You heard what I said,” replied Chick, with a defiant stare at him. “You really mean it, do you?” “That’s what. I’m going to have my bit out of this job, or there’s going to be something doing.” “You will tell all you know, eh?” “That’s about the size of it.” “But you can be bought?” “Sure thing. That’s what I’m here for.” “I see,” said Murdock, with a nod. “But why does it devolve upon her to buy your silence? That’s up to the person who committed the crime. Assuming that you are right, that the man you saw with her on the train had a hand in the robbery, she certainly played no part in it. It’s hardly fair to ring her into it, or to ask her to buy your silence.” “I’m out for the coin, and I’m going to get it,” Chick grimly insisted. “Do you know the man, her companion?” “No. But it’s enough that she knows him, and——” “Could you identify him?” Murdock interrupted. “Sure I could. I saw him plain enough on the train.” Murdock smiled a bit oddly, sure that Chick did not suspect him of having been the crook. He took a cigar from his pocket and lit it, remarking carelessly: “You’re a bad egg, Kennedy, and you’re serving this woman a scurvy trick. No more could be expected of a fellow of your cloth, I suppose, and I’m not sure but that would be the best way to settle with you.” “Sure it would!” Chick quickly agreed. “See here, Jeff——” “You keep quiet, Janet!” Murdock commanded. “It’s plain enough that Kennedy cannot be bullied. You’re in a mess, Janet, and I’m going to pull you out. Nevertheless, Kennedy, you must see that it’s not up to this woman to settle,” he added. “She had no hand in the job, even if your suspicions are correct. It’s up to the man to buy your silence. As a matter of fact, too, she has no money with which to bribe you. Nor have I. You must see the man himself.” “Trot him out, then,” Chick said bluntly. “He’s the very gink I want to see. I’ll bring him to time, all right, if I can get my lamps on him.” “It’s not so easy to trot him out,” Murdock replied. “He would have to trot a considerable distance.” “You mean he ain’t in town?” questioned Chick, frowning suspiciously. “Not within a dozen miles of Shelby.” “You know where he is, then, I take it.” Murdock nodded. “I not only know where he is, Kennedy, but I’ll take you to him,” he said, after a moment. “He’s the man for you to see, and I have no doubt that you can make some kind of a deal with him. He will conclude that’s the best way out of the difficulty, most likely, providing your demands are not exorbitant.” “Oh, I don’t want the earth,” Chick allowed. “It’s up to you, then.” “What is?” “To go with me and see him,” said Murdock, in more friendly fashion. “I came in this morning to take Janet out there. You may go with us.”