"Then I'll make sure of it this time."
"This is unfair," remonstrated August, feeling that he was at the mercy of his enemy, and anxious to gain time, for night was fast falling, and with it the peddler and his dog would doubtless come.
"All is fair in war my friend."
"Why did you attempt to murder me last night?"
"For purposes of my own."
"You concocted a falsehood about Silas Keene and led me into a trap."
"Not entirely false," returned the villain. "The detective was hurt, and has since died."
"Since last night?"
"No, before that, but I will not palaver with you. I set out to rid the earth of my rival in business, and this is the way I do it."
The speaker thrust forward his revolver and fired.