“From all indications I shall have full opportunity for their use hereafter, whatever they may be, in our own bailiwick,” Doctor Hosmer replied, smiling. “There’s more going on in our village, apparently, than in many a small kingdom. I merely had Janet use the truth with certain limitations, and there’s no wiser course when part of the facts are known. Sorenson seemed quite satisfied with her explanation.”
The colloquy resulted from a meeting between Janet and the cattleman while Weir was guiding the young physician, summoned from Bowenville, to Johnson’s ranch. Sorenson had appeared at the house about ten o’clock that morning desiring to see the girl. They had talked together on the veranda, where the visitor stated he had effected a settlement and obtained an acknowledgment from Martinez, who was trying to blackmail him and others; that a certain paper had been prepared by the lawyer for use in the disreputable business; that the man had said he had asked Janet to secure it from an old chair in his office; and he wished to learn if she had done so.
Janet had admitted such to be the case.
“It was odd Mr. Martinez should telephone me to go get it, wasn’t it?” she had asked. “But I went, and there it was stuffed in the lining of the chair.”
“You have it then?” Sorenson stated, with a sigh of relief and his eyes kindling with eagerness.
“No, I haven’t it now.”
“What in heaven’s name did you do with it?” he asked.
“As I was coming out of Mr. Martinez’ office, there at the door was Ed. He had seen me go in and so stopped his car before the door; after a time he took the paper to see what it was.”
“Then you didn’t see its contents?”