"I want to know just why Mr. Wilbur sent you here." "He didn't send us," answered Dale truthfully. "We were out of a job, and he suggested we try you for an opening, and gave us a recommendation." "You sent a long report to Mr. Wilbur a few days ago," said the lumber merchant, turning to Owen. "I did," answered Owen, and went on shrewdly: "Did Mr. Rice tell you how I caught that thief?" "Thief? What thief?" "The fellow who tried to rob Mr. Wilbur's lodge in Maine. He got away from the authorities in Maine and drifted out here. I spotted him the day I went up there about the band saw." "I haven't seen Mr. Rice." "Oh! Well, we caught him--that is, I did--but he wouldn't own up that he was Baptiste Ducrot," went on Owen quickly. "But I know him by a scar he carries. I wrote to Mr. Wilbur about it, and I also sent a letter to the sheriff of the county in Maine. The sheriff was all cut up over Ducrot's getting away, and I know he'll want to bring him back." Ulmer Balasco breathed deeply. He remembered that the station master had mentioned a letter to a sheriff in Maine. This story must be a true one. If so, perhaps after all his fears were groundless. "Evidently you don't bear this Ducrot any good will," he ventured. "Why should I?" answered Dale. "He once stole a horse from me, and knocked me into the water in the bargain." "Then it's no wonder you want to catch him. Do you--er--do you suppose Mr. Wilbur will come on to see about it?" "I'm sure I don't know." "Did you ask him to come on?" At this Dale remained silent. In the letter sent by himself and Owen they had urged Mr. Wilbur to come on--but not on Baptiste Ducrot's account. "We told him he had best come West," said Owen boldly. "But he may not come--he is so busy." There was an awkward pause. Ulmer Balasco hardly knew how to proceed. Then a sudden thought struck him. Even if these two young men were not spies, it might be as well to get rid of them. "I suppose you want to know why I sent for you," he said slowly. "It is on account of that accident on the railroad. I have investigated further, and I am now convinced that both of you were guilty of gross negligence. That being so, I have resolved that I will dispense with your services after this week. I will pay you off next Saturday, and then you can look elsewhere for work." It was a heavy blow and each of the young lumbermen felt it keenly. Each realized that Ulmer Balasco meant to get rid of them before Mr. Wilbur's arrival, when he would cook up such a story against them as pleased him. "Mr. Balasco, don't you think you are rather hard on us?" said Owen. "Not at all. In the first place, you had no business on the train. In the second place, having agreed to fasten the logs, you should have done the work in a proper manner. It was only by pure luck that the whole train wasn't wrecked and several lives lost." "I did my full duty!" cried Dale. "And if you won't believe me, perhaps Mr. Wilbur will."