“Yes,� Black Mayo agreed tranquilly.
“But if you knew all this—you had authority, being a Secret Service man—why didn’t you arrest him?� demanded Andrews.
“Because there were things we wanted to find out, details of a plot, proof against its leaders. I don’t mind telling now—you’re an officer of the law and these others are friends—the tall, fair man who came to Larkland was Thomas Milner. You’ve heard of him?�
“Not the big Secret Service chap?� exclaimed Andrews.
“Yes. I was in Washington, to make a report to him, when Smith sent you fellows to Larkland to nose about.�
“If Mrs. Osborne had told me——� Andrews began to mumble.
“She didn’t know; and she wouldn’t have told you if she had known.�
“But why did Smith set us on you?�
“Oh! partly revenge for a beating I gave him last year and a fracas we had later, and partly, no doubt, to shield himself from suspicion by turning it on me and my guest. If he had suspected who that guest was——� Black Mayo chuckled.
“But what was Smith doing?� asked Mr. Blair.