Pagina 191 van 439

Brandt shook hands heartily. "They say it was a dandy piece of

work. I read that story in a magazine. You delivered the goods

proper."

The ranger was embarrassed. "Oh, it wasn't much of a job. The man

that wrote it put in the fancy touches, to make his story sell, I

expect."

"Yes, he did! I know all about that!" the sheriff derided. "I've

got to get you out of this hole somehow. Do you mind if I send

for Hilliard, the prosecuting attorney? He's a bright young

fellow, loaded to the guards with ideas. What I want is to get at

a legal way of fixing this thing up, you understand. I'll call

him up on the phone, and have him run over."

Hilliard was shortly on the spot--a short, fat little fellow with

eyeglasses. He did not at first show any enthusiasm in the

prisoner's behalf.