“Benson, come with me,” said the officer, kindly, but firmly. “I should like to have a few words with you in private. Dick, you and George go around where the others are, and tell them that I don’t want to be interrupted.”
“Well, smart Alecks, what have you accomplished?” asked Wallace, as Dick and his companion joined their friend, Bob Howard.
“We kept Benson from running away,” replied Dick, whose even temper was not in the least ruffled by the other’s insulting tones. “We couldn’t afford to let him get out of sight, you know, because we shall need his evidence. You said last night that if you ever got into trouble, it would be through him, and I guess you hit the nail right on top of the head.”
“I never said any such thing,” denied Wallace, hoping by an assumption of rage, which he did not feel, to hide the alarm he did feel. “Now, I am sick of all this nonsense, and I want to know what you mean by it.”
“You will find out all you want to know as soon as Benson has finished his confession.”
“Confession!” gasped Wallace.
That was the thing of which he stood the most in fear. If Benson’s courage gave way, there was no hope for them. The bare thought was enough to terrify him beyond expression.
His face was fairly livid, while Forbes could only maintain an upright position by clinging to the horn of his saddle.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE UPSHOT OF THE WHOLE MATTER.
“Where is Benson now?” asked Wallace, as soon as he could speak. “What did you do with him?”