"It wasn't anythin' like that, Mr. Denton, I swear. That's—"
"Look here," the Inspector rapped. "You're lying! You'll deny you've traded whiskey for him next!"
"Whiskey?" Randall's face was ghastly. "Mr. Denton, for God's sake——"
"I knew it!" the Inspector exclaimed remorselessly. "Hand in glove with that Indian there, too, I'll bet!"
Wild Horse jumped uneasily. Randall cast a frightened glance in that direction.
"Ah, Inspector," he cried, desperately. "No—I never seen that feller before. That's Gospel true! I'll admit I smuggled whiskey, but——"
Hector cut him short.
"You see, sir," he said to Denton, "he's one of the minor cogs in the machine. Wild Horse is another. Both work under Welland—neither knows the other from Adam!"
The Inspector nodded.
"Tell us what happened after your scandal-mongering failed," he ordered.