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“How?” said I.

“You’ll see–and you’ll see soon! The penitentiaries are built for just this–“

“Sh, sh!” said I, but he paid no attention.

“They say Gorgett owns the Grand Jury,” he went on. “Well, let him! Within a week I’ll be mayor of this town–and Gorgett’s Grand Jury won’t outlast his defeat very long. By his own confession this man Genz is party to a conspiracy with Gorgett, and you and Crowder are witnesses to the confession. I’ll see that you have the pleasure of giving your testimony before a Grand Jury of determined men. Do you hear me? And tomorrow afternoon’s Herald will have the whole infamous story to the last word. I give you my solemn oath upon it!”

All three of us, Crowder, Genz, and I, sprang to our feet. We were considerably worked up, and none of us said anything for a minute or so, just looked at Knowles.

“Yes, you’re a little shocked,” he said. “It’s always shocking to men like you to come in contact with honesty that won’t compromise. You needn’t talk to me; you can’t say anything that would change me to save your lives. I’ve taken my oath upon it, and you couldn’t alter me a hair’s breadth if you burned me at a slow fire. Light, light, that’s what you need, the light of day and publicity! I’m going to clear this town of fraud, and if Gorgett don’t wear the stripes for this my name’s not Farwell Knowles! He’ll go over the road, handcuffed to a deputy, before three months are gone. Don’t tell me I’m injuring you and the party by it. Pah! It will give me a thousand more votes. I’m not exactly a child, my friends! On my honour, the whole thing will be printed in to-morrow’s paper!”

“For God’s sake–” Crowder broke out, but Knowles cut him off.

“I bid you good-afternoon,” he said, sharply. We all started toward him, but before we’d got half across the room he was gone, and the door slammed behind him.

Bob dropped into a chair; he was looking considerably pale; I guess I was, too, but Genz was ghastly.

“Let me out of here,” he said in a sick voice. “Let me out of here!”

“Sit down!” I told him.

“Just let me out of here,” he said again. And before I could stop him, he’d gone, too, in a blind hurry.

Bob and I were left alone, and not talking any.

Not for a while. Then Bob said: “Where do you reckon he’s gone?”

“Reckon who’s gone?”

“Genz.”

“To see Lafe.”

“What?”

“Of course he has. What else can he do? He’s gone up any way. The best he can do is to try to square himself a little by owning up the whole thing. Gorgett will know it all any way, tomorrow afternoon, when the Herald comes out.”

“I guess you’re right,” said Bob. “We’re done up along with Gorgett; but I believe that idiot’s right, he won’t lose votes by playing hob with us. What’s to be done?”

“Nothing,” I answered. “You can’t head Farwell off. It’s all my fault, Bob.”

“Isn’t there any way to get hold of him? A crazy man could see that his best friend couldn’t beg it out of him, and that he wouldn’t spare any of us; but don’t you know of some bludgeon we could hang up over him?”

“Nothing. It’s up to Gorgett.”

“Well,” said Bob, “Lafe’s mighty smart, but it looks like God-help-Gorgett now!”

Well, sir, I couldn’t think of anything better to do than to go around and see Gorgett; so, after waiting long enough for Genz to see him and get away, I went. Lafe was always cool and slow; but I own I expected to find him flustered, and was astonished to see right away that he wasn’t. He was smoking, as usual, and wearing his hat, as he always did, indoors and out, sitting with his feet upon his desk, and a pleasant look of contemplation on his face.