“Did you?” asked Orde.

“Did I what?”

“Give him that licking?”

“I sure did start out to; but I couldn’t bring myself to more than shake him up a little.”

Orde rose, stretching his legs.

“What are your plans now?”

“To see Baker.  I’m going to tell him that on the first indications of his making trouble I’m going to enter complaint for bribery against both him and Mr. Welton.  You see, I was there too.  Think it’ll work?”

“The best way is to go and see.”

“Come on,” said Bob.

XXXVIII

The two men found Baker seated behind his flat-top desk.  He grinned cheerfully at them; and, to Bob’s surprise, greeted him with great joviality.

“All hail, great Chief!” he cried.  “I’ve had my scalp nicely smoke-tanned for you, so you won’t have to bother taking it.”  He bowed to Orde.  “I’m glad to see you, sir,” said he.  “Know you by your picture.  Please be seated.”

Bob brushed the levity aside.

“I’ve come,” said he, “to get an explanation from you as to why, in the first place, you had me kidnapped; and why, in the second place, you tried to get me murdered.”

Baker’s mocking face became instantly grave; and, leaning forward, he hit the desk a thump with his right fist.

“Orde,” said he, “I want you to believe me in this:  I never was more sorry for anything in my life!  I wouldn’t have had that happen for anything in the world!  If I’d had the remotest idea that Oldham contemplated something of that sort, I should have laid very positive orders on him.  He said he had something on you that would keep your mouth shut, but I never dreamed he meant gun play.”

“I don’t suppose you dreamed he meant kidnapping either,” observed Bob.

Baker threw himself back with a chuckle.

“Being kidnapped is fine for the health,” said he.  “Babies thrive on it.  No,” he continued, again leaning forward gravely, “Oldham got away from his instructions completely.  Shooting or that kind of violence was absurd in such a case.  You mustn’t lay that to me, but to his personal grudge.”

“What do you know of a personal grudge?” Bob flashed back.

“Ab-so-lute-ly nothing; but I suspected.  It’s part of my job to be a nifty young suspector—­and to use what I guess at.  He just got away from me.  As for the rest of it, that’s part of the game.  This is no croquet match; you must expect to get your head bumped if you play it.  I play the game.”

“I play the game, too,” returned Bob, “and I came here to tell you so.  I’ll take care of myself, but I want to say that the moment you offer any move against Welton, I shall bring in my testimony against both of you on this bribery matter.”

“Sapient youth!” said Baker, amused; “did that aspect of it just get to you?  But you misinterpreted the spirit of my greeting when you came in the room.  In words of one syllable, you’ve got us licked.  We lie down and roll over.  We stick all four paws in the air.  We bat our august forehead against the floor.  Is that clear?”