"Here's a fine how-d'ye-do," grunted Burton. "Andy, you've worked for me two years, and I never thought you'd turn against me like this!"
"It was Ben Ali roped me into it," was Carter's angry reply. "If I had that gun in my hands, I'd show you a trick or two. Well," and he threw a look at Burton, chagrined but defiant, "what are you going to do about it?"
The showman sat down on the edge of the table.
"You admit the whole business, eh, Andy?" he asked.
"Dhondaram seems to have given his side of the story, and I might as well give mine," answered the ticket man.
Matt flashed a look at McGlory. The king of the motor boys had not intended to convey the impression that the Hindoo had been captured and had confessed, but Carter, out of his guilty conscience, had jumped to that conclusion.
"You might as well tell it all, Andy, and be perfectly frank with me," said Burton. "What had Ben Ali to do with the affair?"
"He figured it out while he was with the show," went on Carter. "So——" He broke off suddenly. "But what good is it going to do me to tell you all this?" he asked.
"It may do you a lot of good, Andy, and it may not do you any. You'll have to take your chances on that."
Carter was thoughtful for a few moments, and then gave vent to a bitter laugh.