“Perhaps so,” acknowledged Hodge; “but I hated to see her get off. She was the chief one in a pretty mean piece of business.”
“I do not think she was the chief one.”
“Then who——”
“Vance.”
“Well, you let him off after he had robbed you.”
“He returned every dollar of the money, and I did not lose anything. A man in my place can’t afford to spend time in lawsuits. It would ruin my plans. Vance seemed thankful to get away, and I hoped we’d not hear anything from him again.”
“You hoped in vain.”
“Yes.”
“We’ll hear from him again.”
“Perhaps.”