With these words he hurried out of the office, satisfied that he had succeeded in his mission.
“It’s sure to work,” he said to himself as he walked back to the club. “From the look on that guy’s face, I’m sure that it’s only the lack of funds which prevents him from beatin’ it. As soon as he learns that there’s a chance for him to get hold of enough dough to make a safe get-away he’ll grab at it quick.”
When Dallas saw Owen a little later she repeated to him what Hines had said, and the young man, greatly mystified, went to report the incident to his friend and counselor, Judge Lawrence.
“What on earth does it mean, judge?” he inquired. “What is their game in offering me money?”
The lawyer laughed. “It is very clear what their game is, my boy. They are in hopes that you are in such terror of the coming trial that you can be tempted to seek safety in flight. The two thousand dollars is intended to pay your expenses.”
Owen frowned; then his face suddenly lighted up. “Say, judge, I’ve got another idea. Couldn’t we make great capital out of this offer? What’s the matter with my accepting this money from Hines, in the presence of concealed witnesses, then exposing the whole game? The very fact that they are trying to induce me to jump my[Pg 50] bail ought to be enough to prove that they are behind this conspiracy.”
Judge Lawrence smiled. “I was thinking of that, but it wouldn’t work. Those rascals are too smart to lay themselves open to a trap of that sort. That is why Hines went to Miss Worthington instead of making that offer direct to you.
“You see,” he went on, “while we can readily guess their motive, they haven’t said anything that would incriminate them. Hines simply offered to lend you some money, which might be taken as a philanthropic and disinterested act on his part. He did not suggest that the money be used to defray the expenses of your flight. He would claim that he thought you might be able to use it to defray the expense of your defense.
“And, besides, you can rest assured that if you agreed to accept the money, Hines wouldn’t be so careless as to make out the check to you. He would make it out to Miss Worthington. There’s nothing criminal in a man lending or giving a couple of thousand dollars to a young lady whose friendship he ardently seeks. That’s the answer which they would make to an attempt on our part to make capital out of the incident.”
Sheridan realized the logic of this, and Hines’ offer was turned down flat.