“How did he know that Don was out in this country?” asked Alex.
“Oh,” laughed King, “a lad like Don is easy to follow. He was in Phoenix and Yuma several days, but always got out just ahead of the man who engaged me to handle the case. He must have had warning of his coming, I think.”
“What was he doing in Yuma and Phoenix?” asked Alex, in a moment.
“Hanging around the hotels, evidently waiting for some one.”
“Huh!” the boy ventured. “I guess his story is true, then. He might have been looking for the real owner of the money and the handbag. Think so?”
“He may have been,” was the reluctant answer. “In fact, I believe the boy really thinks he is doing a noble deed in keeping the property he stole for some unknown person thought by him to own it.”
“Glad you think that!” exclaimed Alex. “Don thinks he is doing the right thing, anyway, whether he is or not. I like him!”
“At any rate,” King concluded, “he has a loyal friend in you, and I shall say no more about the matter while I am your guest. I hope, however, that he will give me a chance to confer with him before long.”
“If he should come to you to talk things over,” Alex asked, “wouldn’t you arrest him? Would you let him go back to his hiding-place unmolested? I may see him some day, and I’ll tell him what you say.”
“Yes; he may talk with me without fear of arrest,” was the reply. “And now,” the deputy went on, “that I have said just what I came back to say, I must be on my way. If you see Don, say to him that I want to have a talk with him, and that he will profit by the interview.”