There was a suspicious glitter in the keen eyes of the kind old chief as he put out his hand and grasped Gordon’s in a hearty shake; but all he said was: “And you are all worn out--I’ll guarantee you didn’t sleep much last night.” “Well, no,” said Gordon; “I had to sit up in a day-coach and share the seat with another man. Besides, I was somewhat excited.” “Of course, of course!” puffed the old chief, coughing vigorously, and showing by his gruff attitude that he was deeply affected. “Well, young man, this won’t be forgotten by the Department. Now you go home and take a good sleep. Take the whole day off if you wish, and then come down to-morrow morning and tell me all about it. Isn’t there anything more I need to know at once that justice may be done?” “I believe not,” said Gordon, with a sigh of relief. “There’s a list of the men who were at the dinner with me. I wrote them down from memory last night when I couldn’t sleep. I also wrote a few scraps of conversation, which will show you just how deep the plot had gone. If I had not read the message and known its import, I should not have understood what they were talking about.” “H-m! Yes. If there had been more time before you started I might have told you all about it. Still, it seemed desirable that you should appear as much at your ease as possible. I thought this would be best accomplished by your knowing nothing of the import of the writing when you first met the people.” “I suppose it was as well that I did not know any more than I did. You are a great chief, sir! I was deeply impressed anew with that fact as I saw how wonderfully you had planned for every possible emergency. It was simply great, sir.” “Pooh! Pooh! Get you home and to bed,” said the old chief quite brusquely. He touched a bell and a man appeared. “Jessup, is the coast clear?” he asked. “Yessah,” declared the darky. “Dey have jest hed a couple o’ shots in de pahk, an’ now dey tuk de villains off to der p’lice station. De officers is out der waitin’ to ’scort de gemman.” “Get home with you, Gordon, and don’t come to the office till ten in the morning. Then come straight to my private room.”