"Well, that's enough," said McGinty, draining off his glass. "I camedown to give you a word in season, and you've had it."
"I'd like to know," said McMurdo, "how you ever came to learn that Ihad spoken with Morris at all?"
McGinty laughed. "It's my business to know what goes on in thistownship," said he. "I guess you'd best reckon on my hearing all thatpasses. Well, time's up, and I'll just say--"
But his leavetaking was cut short in a very unexpected fashion. With asudden crash the door flew open, and three frowning, intent facesglared in at them from under the peaks of police caps. McMurdo sprangto his feet and half drew his revolver; but his arm stopped midway ashe became conscious that two Winchester rifles were levelled at hishead. A man in uniform advanced into the room, a six-shooter in hishand. It was Captain Marvin, once of Chicago, and now of the MineConstabulary. He shook his head with a half-smile at McMurdo.
"I thought you'd be getting into trouble, Mr. Crooked McMurdo ofChicago," said he. "Can't keep out of it, can you? Take your hat andcome along with us."
"I guess you'll pay for this, Captain Marvin," said McGinty. "Who areyou, I'd like to know, to break into a house in this fashion and molesthonest, law-abiding men?"
"You're standing out in this deal, Councillor McGinty," said the policecaptain. "We are not out after you, but after this man McMurdo. It isfor you to help, not to hinder us in our duty."
"He is a friend of mine, and I'll answer for his conduct," said theBoss.
"By all accounts, Mr. McGinty, you may have to answer for your ownconduct some of these days," the captain answered. "This man McMurdowas a crook before ever he came here, and he's a crook still. Coverhim, Patrolman, while I disarm him."
"There's my pistol," said McMurdo coolly. "Maybe, Captain Marvin, ifyou and I were alone and face to face you would not take me so easily."
"Where's your warrant?" asked McGinty. "By Gar! a man might as welllive in Russia as in Vermissa while folk like you are running thepolice. It's a capitalist outrage, and you'll hear more of it, Ireckon."
"You do what you think is your duty the best way you can, Councillor.We'll look after ours."
"What am I accused of?" asked McMurdo.
"Of being concerned in the beating of old Editor Stanger at the Heraldoffice. It wasn't your fault that it isn't a murder charge."
"Well, if that's all you have against him," cried McGinty with a laugh,"you can save yourself a deal of trouble by dropping it right now. Thisman was with me in my saloon playing poker up to midnight, and I canbring a dozen to prove it."
"That's your affair, and I guess you can settle it in court to-morrow.Meanwhile, come on, McMurdo, and come quietly if you don't want a gunacross your head. You stand wide, Mr. McGinty; for I warn you I willstand no resistance when I am on duty!"
So determined was the appearance of the captain that both McMurdo andhis boss were forced to accept the situation. The latter managed tohave a few whispered words with the prisoner before they parted.
"What about--" he jerked his thumb upward to signify the coining plant.
"All right," whispered McMurdo, who had devised a safe hiding placeunder the floor.
"I'll bid you good-bye," said the Boss, shaking hands. "I'll see Reillythe lawyer and take the defense upon myself. Take my word for it thatthey won't be able to hold you."
"I wouldn't
bet on that. Guard the prisoner, you two, and shoot him ifhe tries any games. I'll search the house before I leave."
He did so; but apparently found no trace of the concealed plant. Whenhe had descended he and his men escorted McMurdo to headquarters.Darkness had fallen, and a keen blizzard was blowing so that thestreets were nearly deserted; but a few loiterers followed the group,and emboldened by invisibility shouted imprecations at the prisoner.
"Lynch the cursed Scowrer!" they cried. "Lynch him!" They laughed andjeered as he was pushed into the police station. After a short, formalexamination from the inspector in charge he was put into the commoncell. Here he found Baldwin and three other criminals of the nightbefore, all arrested that afternoon and waiting their trial nextmorning.
But even within this inner fortress of the law the long arm of theFreemen was able to extend. Late at night there came a jailer with astraw bundle for their bedding, out of which he extracted two bottlesof whisky, some glasses, and a pack of cards. They spent a hilariousnight, without an anxious thought as to the ordeal of the morning.
Nor had they cause, as the result was to show. The magistrate could notpossibly, on the evidence, have held them for a higher court. On theone hand the compositors and pressmen were forced to admit that thelight was uncertain, that they were themselves much perturbed, and thatit was difficult for them to swear to the identity of the assailants;although they believed that the accused were among them. Cross examinedby the clever attorney who had been engaged by McGinty, they were evenmore nebulous in their evidence.
The injured man had already deposed that he was so taken by surprise bythe suddenness of the attack that he could state nothing beyond thefact that the first man who struck him wore a moustache. He added thathe knew them to be Scowrers, since no one else in the community couldpossibly have any enmity to him, and he had long been threatened onaccount of his outspoken editorials. On the other hand, it was clearlyshown by the united and unfaltering evidence of six citizens, includingthat high municipal official, Councillor McGinty, that the men had beenat a card party at the Union House until an hour very much later thanthe commission of the outrage.
Needless to say that they were discharged with something very near toan apology from the bench for the inconvenience to which they had beenput, together with an implied censure of Captain Marvin and the policefor their officious zeal.
The verdict was greeted with loud applause by a court in which McMurdosaw many familiar faces. Brothers of the lodge smiled and waved. Butthere were others who sat with compressed lips and brooding eyes as themen filed out of the dock. One of them, a little, dark-bearded,resolute fellow, put the thoughts of himself and comrades into words asthe ex-prisoners passed him.
"You damned murderers!" he said. "We'll fix you yet!"