“Well, there were three of them, sheriff. Anyway, I think there were three. I’m sure that one stayed near the door. The one who did the talking was a thin sort of a fellow.” “Couldn’t recognize his voice, if yuh heard it?” “Hardly. Still, I might.” “Wasn’t there a fire broke out about that time?” “Yes, there was,” said Mrs. Meecham quickly. “It was down at Baldy Malloy’s shack. His wood-shed burned down.” “Didja ever hear how it got started?” Meecham pursed his lips and shook his head wisely. “Mebbe it was set on purpose, eh?” suggested Brick. “Possibly.” Brick got to his feet and picked up his hat. “Well, I reckon that’s about all. It kinda looks like somebody was gettin’ rich off Sun Dog banks. It sure hits Soapy Caswell hard. I reckon I’ll have to ride out and see him soon.” “I saw him this morning,” volunteered Mrs. Meecham. “He was in front of the bank in a buckboard.” “He uses a buckboard most of the time,” said Meecham. “Gray team?” queried Brick. “Yes.” “By golly, that must ’a’ been him at the Red Hill mine. I was back on the hill and saw the rig drive up to the mine office. I never thought about it bein’ Soapy. A little later I was down at the office and talked with Barney Devine, but he never mentioned that Soapy had been there.” As Brick manufactured this out of whole cloth, Meecham stepped over to the organ and arranged the scattered sheets of music. He turned back to Brick, nodding indifferently. “Possibly he drove out there,” he said. “He didn’t say where he was going.” “He wasn’t there long—if it was Soapy,” added Brick. “I seen ’em take something from the buckboard and take it into the office. They were in there just a minute, when one of ’em came out, got into the buckboard and drove back down the road. Well, I reckon I’ll be movin’, folks.” “You ought to come to that dance Friday night,” urged Mrs. Meecham. “We’ll sure have a good time.” “I’ll betcha yuh will,” smiled Brick. “I dunno whether I’ll have time or not. I’ve got a lot of work mapped out ahead of me and I’ll prob’ly be too busy.” “Electioneering?” queried Meecham. Brick thought there was just the hint of a sneer in the question. “Nope. Just tryin’ to make good on what’s left of this term of office, Meecham.” “Oh, I see. Well, come and see us again, sheriff.” “Thank yuh,” nodded Brick. “Come and see me too. _Adiós._” Brick walked back to the Short Horn saloon, but did not go inside. Leach was in there, standing at the bar, talking to several other men. Brick went to the rack and got his horse, mounted and headed for Marlin City. He had found out several worth-while things, which paid him for the ride to Silverton. It was interesting to know that Meecham was Leach’s brother-in-law, and that both of them, together with Hank Stagg and Baldy Malloy, were from Idaho. Leach had come first. Brick decided that he would find out from Soapy just how he happened to employ Charley Meecham.