“Needn’t to be afraid of Mr. Bowman, John.  What’s the story?”

“Bank shippin’ bullion.  Three chunks of it.  Wuth fifty-odd thousand dollars.  I know, ’cause that’s the comp’ny’s liability wrote in black and white....  Been stole,” he said, after a brief pause.

“Where?”

“Out of my office, this mornin’.  Not a trace.  Jest up and disappeared.  Detectives and all can’t run on to no clue.  Might as well ‘a’ melted and run through a crack.  Jest gone, and that’s all anybody kin find.”

“Mighty sorry to hear it, John.  Hope you wasn’t keerless, and don’t figger you was.  Guess you won’t be blamed when the facts comes out.”

“If they ever do,” said John.  “G’ night, Mr. Baines.  I’m mighty oneasy in my mind.”

Scattergood turned the subject back at once to mining stocks.

“You set me down for five thousand dollars.  Don’t let nobody else have it.  Got jest that sum comin’ due tomorrer.  You and me’ll drive over to git it, and you fetch them stock certificates along.  Got ’em in that little satchel you’re always carryin’?”

“No,” smiled Mr. Bowman.  “That’s my purse.  I take no chances on robbers, like your express agent spoke of.  I don’t mind telling you that I have fifteen thousand dollars in that bag—­and I intend to keep it there.”

“Do tell!” exclaimed Scattergood.  “Wa-al, you know your business.  Now, then, if you want to drive over six mile with me to-morrer, well git us that money and I’ll take the stock.”

“Good,” said Mr. Bowman.  “An early start.  Can I take a train from there?  I’ll be through here, I think.”

“To be sure,” said Scattergood.  “Mighty funny thing about that gold, now wa’n’t it?  Three bars.  Wuth fifty thousand!  Mighty slick work—­to spirit it off and nobody never find a trace.”

“The criminal classes,” said Mr. Bowman, “have produced some remarkable intellects.  Good night, Mr. Baines.”

“See you early in the mornin’,” replied Scattergood.

After a breakfast which Mr. Bowman watched Scattergood dispose of with admiration and astonishment, the pair entered the old buggy and started across the hills.  In addition to his small bag Mr. Bowman brought a large suitcase containing his apparel, so it was apparent he was leaving the county seat for good.  The morning came off hot and humid.  Scattergood kept his eyes open for a spring, but it was not until they had driven some miles that an opportunity to find water appeared.

“Calculate we kin git a drink there,” said Scattergood, pointing to a little shanty in a clearing by the roadside.  He stopped his horse, and they alighted and knocked.  There was no reply.  Scattergood pushed open the door and then stepped back suddenly, for within were three individuals of disreputable appearance, and one of them regarded Scattergood over the leveled barrels of a shotgun.

“Come right in and set,” invited this individual, and Scattergood, followed by Mr. Bowman, entered.  On a table of pine wood, unconcealed, lay three enormous bars of gold.