“Oh,” said Gray gently. “The sheriff’s in it too?”
“To be sure. He—he will guide you to my brother,” offered Vladimir eagerly. “Do not go inside the hotel. Let the sheriff take you to the hotel where my brother waits. Talk to my brother. And you will earn ten thousand dollars each!”
Cunningham’s head began to whirl. Vladimir hadn’t heard of the death of his brother. But he had some plan to the detriment of the Strange People, and so obviously of Maria. Otherwise he would not have found it necessary to bribe the sheriff. And yet, both Vladimir and his brother had been at a long distance the day before. They had hurried here on learning where the Strange People were. The Strange People knew them and feared them; might even be hiding especially from them! But why?
Cunningham could not explain it, but he knew that he had not mistaken the route to adventure. Coulters was on the way. But there was a mile and a half still to go.
Gray moved suddenly.
“Cunningham, if you want to take up this proposition—”
Cunningham picked up his bags and moved toward the hotel.
“I can’t fill the contract,” he said shortly.
“But it is so simple!” protested Vladimir. “Simply talk to my brother——”
Gray was already up on the porch.