I was glad to scamper around. One thing was certain. I'd hurt Sax none, and proved the value of my plan. Another thing I wanted to know I learned on leaving.
"Mary," I said, as if it was an understood thing between us, "why did Mr. Belknap speak against Saxton?"
She fell into the trap, unthinking. "Because he wished to warn me, of course. And in spite of all you say, Will—forgive me—he is a man of such insight, I cannot believe him altogether wrong."
"It would be bad if Belknap didn't turn out the man you think him, wouldn't it?" I asked, innocently.
"It would," she said. And with that I came away.
XIV
BROTHER BELKNAP'S REVOLUTION
The next thing needed in my calculations was time. My three-day vacation ended Monday; I had to have an extension or a sure thing on another, shortly. I was ready to throw up my job, but I felt it wouldn't come to that, likely, so I pulled for home and Jim.
At the store Pedro told me Jim had been there yesterday afternoon, but left at once in no pleasant frame of mind. Pedro didn't know where he had gone. Took out toward the east, riding fast.