"That's too bad, John," said the sheriff sympathetically, "but we didn't know where a wire would reach you, so there didn't seem any other way than this—"
"Well, what do you want with me?" demanded North, with rather less heat than had marked his previous speech.
"They got the idea back home that you can help in the McBride matter," explained the sheriff again. "I see that you know he's been murdered."
"Yes, I knew that before I left Mount Hope," rejoined North.
"Did you, though?" said the sheriff briefly, and this admission of North's appeared to furnish him with food for reflection.
"Well, what do I know that will be of use to you?" asked North impatiently.
"You ain't to make any statement to me, John," returned the sheriff hastily.
"Do you mean you expect me to go back to Mount Hope?" inquired North in a tone of mingled wonder and exasperation.
The sheriff nodded.
"That's the idea, John," he said placidly.