"Murgatroyd not in town for two weeks; Mrs. Traquair not in town for a week. Can't find where either has gone.
Matthews."
Matt believed, then, that Hackberry had told the truth and that the letter was genuine. And so it happened that Murgatroyd's first move in his rascally game was attended with success.
[CHAPTER V.]
A STARTLING PLAN.
"What's up, Matt?" asked Cameron. "You've been sending telegrams from the post, and here's an answer to one of them."
Matt repeated Hackberry's story, then showed the lieutenant the ragged note and the letter.
"It's a fishy yarn," mused Cameron. "For a clever man of business, like Murgatroyd, to extort a quitclaim deed from a woman in that way is rank foolishness, say nothing of the criminal part of it, which is very apt to get the scoundrel into trouble. No, I can't believe Murgatroyd would do such a thing. Who is this fellow Hackberry?"
"He says he has a claim joining Traquair's on the——"
"Yes, I know what he says, but where is the proof that what he says is true? This villain, Siwash Charley, is a bitter enemy of yours, Matt, and he isn't likely to stop at anything."