"I'll tell you," replied the spokesman, rather sheepishly. "A few of us were in a saloon in Boomville the early part of the evening. We had indulged in a few drinks, and we must have talked a little louder than we realized, for this fellow overheard us telling how we were going to start a search for the horse thief to-night and string him up if we found him. He came and told us that he could lead us to him. Well, he talked as if he knew what he was saying, and—— Well, you know the rest."
"So," said Al, "you took the word of a barroom loafer, or worse, on a matter of so much importance as that."
"We were excited and had drunk a little too much."
"Well, it seems to me that you had better leave the future management of the business to the proper authorities," suggested Al.
"Maybe you're right," admitted the man he addressed. "Well, you won't say anything about this night's affair to anyone?"
"I shall say nothing that can harm you. The thing shall not be made public through me."
"We'll take your word for that. And now, get into the wagon, and you shall be driven home."
CHAPTER X.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR.
Al's ride home after his queer adventure was an uneventful one. He was glad enough to reach the solitude of his own room. Although his body was tired, his mind seemed abnormally active, and for at least two hours he lay tossing sleeplessly on his bed, reviewing not only the exciting events of the day, but much of his past life.