“I mean that underhand work has been going on here since the day we arrived and that it could not continue as it has without the cognizance and backing of some one in authority.”
“It was at our instigation the police were brought out here,” insisted Gildersleeve. “It’s scarcely likely we would ask you to guard the property we are interested in and then set about deliberately double-crossing you.”
“No.” Colourlessly. “But you were not the first to ask for police protection. A day before your request went in President Slack, of the North Star Company, wired to Ottawa for Mounted Police protection at the limits in case the strike materialised. Both companies seemed intensely anxious to have our assistance; that’s why subsequent events rather puzzle me.”
“What subsequent events in particular do you refer to, Inspector?”
“Well, to begin with there was the abduction of that young lady living on Amethyst Island, the arrest of the fake camp preacher, Nathan Stubbs, and the latter’s jumping his bail and disappearance. Now, some one with plenty of funds was interested enough to forfeit one thousand dollars in order to get Stubbs out of the clutches of the law. Mind you, I’m not saying it was either of the companies, but it was some party vitally interested in what is going on out here, and one or the other of the companies must know who.”
Duff shuffled and coughed and took a fresh tooth-hold on his mangled dead cigar. Gildersleeve’s face remained a complete mask. “I’m sure we haven’t the slightest idea,” he observed with guileless indifference.
“Some one undoubtedly has,” emphasised the inspector. “Furthermore, Stubbs must be quite confident of his backing, else he wouldn’t have the nerve to return to the limits in broad daylight.”
Gildersleeve almost jumped to his feet at that. “Stubbs back here,” he cried. “Impossible!”
“He was seen less than an hour ago back in the hills by some of our men out looking for the missing girl.”
Gildersleeve gave the inspector a glance that questioned his sanity. It was Duff who spoke first. “Did they get him?” he breathed.