CHAPTER XXIII.
THE SOLUTION TANK.
Hawkins’ remark reminded every one in the laboratory, and particularly Merriwell, that Lenning was still to be found and dealt with. Merriwell’s faith in Lenning was growing. He had drawn certain inferences from the story told by his chums which strengthened his trust in his protégé.
“I think, Hawkins,” said Frank, “that it’s pretty clear now that Lenning wasn’t one of the robbers.”
“What makes it clear?” demanded the deputy sheriff.
Mr. Bradlaugh and Burke were opening the bag and examining the bars of bullion. Frank’s statement and Hawkins’ question claimed their attention, and they straightened up and looked around.
“Clancy and Ballard,” Merriwell replied, “recognized the voice of Shoup. The other fellow didn’t speak, so they were not able to recognize him by his voice. Now, Lenning and Shoup are enemies. It would have been impossible for them to work together.”
“Shucks!” grunted the deputy. “They only pretended to be enemies, sos’t Lenning could fool you into helping him get a job here.”
This was a most astounding theory. Furthermore, it was so wildly improbable that Merry and his chums had to laugh.
“You don’t understand what happened between Lenning and Shoup out at the camp in the gulch, Hawkins,” said Frank. “Shoup struck Lenning over the head with a paddle, knocked him out of a canoe, and came within one of drowning him. I guess they weren’t pretending they had a row—not to that extent.”
Merriwell suddenly paused. He was talking in a loud voice—a voice that echoed in tremendous volume through the big room. He wondered what was the cause; and then, in a moment, he realized that the roar of the stamps had ceased. Twenty batteries, of five stamps each, had gone abruptly out of commission in the gold mill. The silence that hovered over the mining camp was most profound. Merry had been talking against the roar of the stamps, and when the roar ceased his voice was still lifted.