"Now, I want the truth out of you fellows," he said roughly. "The truth, do you hear?"
"The truth about what?" questioned Owen.
"I want to know just why Mr. Wilbur sent you here."
"He didn't send us," answered Dale truthfully. "We were out of a job, and he suggested we try you for an opening, and gave us a recommendation."
"You sent a long report to Mr. Wilbur a few days ago," said the lumber merchant, turning to Owen.
"I did," answered Owen, and went on shrewdly: "Did Mr. Rice tell you how I caught that thief?"
"Thief? What thief?"
"The fellow who tried to rob Mr. Wilbur's lodge in Maine. He got away from the authorities in Maine and drifted out here. I spotted him the day I went up there about the band saw."
"I haven't seen Mr. Rice."
"Oh! Well, we caught him—that is, I did—but he wouldn't own up that he was Baptiste Ducrot," went on Owen quickly. "But I know him by a scar he carries. I wrote to Mr. Wilbur about it, and I also sent a letter to the sheriff of the county in Maine. The sheriff was all cut up over Ducrot's getting away, and I know he'll want to bring him back."