“I’ve got to go a little out of our way. It’s a chore I oughtn’t ever to have put off for a minute, but I plumb forgot it.”
“What is it?” Brant asked indifferently.
But his interest was aroused as the marshal hesitated before answering, and exhibited an increasing confusion.
“I’m right ashamed to tell of it,” Stone said, finally. “There’s no excuse for such carelessness. Plutina got into all this mess because she was afraid something dreadful might happen, and it might have—on account of my forgetfulness.”
“What’s it all about?” Brant demanded, now distinctly curious. 268
“It’s bear-traps!” was the morose answer.
“Bear-traps?”
The marshal nodded.
“Those infernal traps Hodges set along Thunder Branch—that made Plutina turn informer.... Well, I just naturally forgot all about ’em.”
Brant uttered an ejaculation of dismay.