“Ask him. He can tell you better than I can,” growled Gus.

“Dan, did you do anything to him?” Ned asked quizzically as he turned to his friend.

“What could I do?” replied Dan, his face betraying his trouble.

“Did you send for a doctor?” asked Hodge of Gus.

“No. Walter wouldn’t let me.”

“Why not?” inquired Ned.

“He said he’d be all right in a little while.”

“Probably something he ate,” suggested Hodge.

“Or drank,” said Ned in a low voice.

“What do you mean by that?” demanded Gus, turning sharply to Ned.